Potential Tokyo Olympian Tom Neill off to Schoolies Week to be a teen with his mates

Potential Tokyo Olympian Tom Neill has big plans over the next 12 months, but for the moment the St Joseph Gregory Terrace school leaver is just going to be a teenager and enjoy Schoolies Week with his mates.

Potential Tokyo Olympian Tom Neill has big plans over the next 12 months, but for the moment the St Joseph Gregory Terrace school leaver is just going to be a teenager and enjoy Schoolies Week with his mates.

The Brookfield resident, who in August claimed four medals at the world junior swimming championships, is mature for his age and one of the most conscientious young athletes you would meet.

But he is also a 17-year-old ready to celebrate the end of his school life.

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

“You don’t want to be a robot. You want to have some social life and I think that helps in the pool. If you are happy, you swim well,’’ the Centenary Rackley swim team member said.

So impressive was Neill at the world juniors that he positioned himself closer to becoming an Olympian, possibly as early as 2020.

Proud as punch to be a St Joseph's Gregory Terrace student.

But the thought of Tokyo is not weighing him down.

“I will go there (to the Olympic trials), give that a crack and see how I go,’’ he said. “But there are heaps of opportunities next year to represent Australia both in juniors and in seniors.’’

Thomas Neill from Rackley at the states 12 months ago. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Neill said making the 2020 Olympic Games was “more realistic now’’ after his world junior freestyle times across the 1500m, 800m and 200m.

“Obviously I still want to enjoy the sport,’’ said Neill.

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“I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on myself. If that (the Olympics) comes, brilliant, but if it does not there are still plenty of opportunities in the future.’’

Tom Neill and Bronte Job flank their coach Damien Jones at Rackley Centenary. Job also went to the world juniors, where she won gold.

Neill was delighted to achieve four podium finishes at the world juniors.

“I obviously worked pretty hard over what was a two and a half, three month prep,’’ Neill said.

“Damo (coach Damien Jones) and I worked especially hard for this competition.

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“Representing your country, you don’t take stuff lightly.

“And to get the results in the end, it was not surprising, but it was satisfying that you got the results.

Tom Neill competing for Australia at the world juniors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I was pretty stoked with all of them, but probably the first night (400m) and the last night (1500m).’’

In the 1500m he went sub-15 minutes for the first time.

The Tackley Centenary swimmer’s times were world class.

His 400m time of 3:46.27 places him ahead of Grant Hackett at the same age, his 800m free came in a PB 7:48.65 and his 1500m was swam in 14:59.19.