Brisbane Grammar Swimming Club’s Minna Atherton claims world record at iswimleague

Brisbane’s Minna Atherton has become the first female short course swimmer to break 55 seconds after powering to an extraordinary 100m backstroke world record at the International Swimming League meet in Budapest overnight.

Minna Atherton became the first woman to swim sub-55 seconds short course when the backstroker powered to an extraordinary 100m world record at the International Swimming League meet in Budapest overnight.

The past student of Brisbane Girls Grammar School beamed a smile wider than the Sydney heads when she obliterated a field which included Hungarian Katinka Hosszú, the 2018 FINA World Aquatics Gala female swimmer of the year.

Minna Atherton pictured a few weeks ago with her world championship silver medal.

Atherton’s coach from Brisbane Grammar Swim Club, David Lush, could not contain his delight, breaking free of the pool side high fives and back slapping to run to greet Atherton.

Atherton’s record, swimming for London Roar, is further evidence of her progression which has positioned her for a tilt at an Olympic medal next year in Tokyo.

Australian Dolphins’ backstroker Minna Atherton appropriately welcomes her water loving puppy

In August the 19-year-old claimed a silver medal in the 100m backstroke at the world swimming championships.

She also added a 4x100m medley relay silver medal to her cabinet.

Pictured at Bond University Pool Swimmers Elijah Winnington and Minna Atherton. Atherton students at Bond after gaining a scholarships. Picture Mike Batterham

Atherton is a down to earth young woman emphasised by her joining squad members from Brisbane Grammar Swimming at a series of swimming clinics organised by coach Lush in the NSW country down of Glen Innes during September.

World swimming championship silver medallist Minna Atherton, far right, and world junior swimming championship representative Alexander Grant with dignities at the Melling Park opening.

Not only did Atherton teach young children at the pool, the local mayor asked her to open a new park which she did in typically relaxed fashion.

She took her world championship silver medal along which was a big hit.

Atherton’s career is on the move. She was a member of the 2018 Commonwealth Games swimming team where she swam without success on the last day of competition.

Minna Atherton and Kaylee McKeown at an Australian Dolphins team training camp in July. (Photo by Delly Carr/Getty Images)

However, it was a valuable experience for her in and out of the pool for the rookie and she used some of the knowledge learned from that experience when she went to South Korea for the world swimming championships in August.

Such is her work ethic, she travels daily after morning training to study at Bond University on the Gold Coast.

Atherton has had the best of tutoring from the great Emily Seebohm who she trained alongside of at Brisbane Grammar Swimming.

Swimmer Minna Atherton (left), after earning a place on the Australian team for this year’s world championships, high fives with Michael Bohl. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Seebohm has been a great mentor to junior swimmers at Brisbane Grammar with her professionalism and worth ethic.

Atherton is now in full swing preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games’ trials.

To think her career started in a little pool at the Milton State School in Brisbane’s inner western suburbs.

$1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS. Min. cost $4

Earlier in the meet, Atherton claimed short couse 200m backstroke and 50m backstroke Australian National Records

The International Swimming League is a league which started in the last 12 months.

It consists of seven swimming meets which take place in seven cities around the world involving eight teams.

Minna Atherton when she was at Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

Prize money is available to swimmers.

Aside from Atherton, the London Roar team consists of swimmers like Australians Cam McEvoy, Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell, Matt Wilson and Kyle Chalmers.