World swimming championship triple medallist Minna Atherton helped curb COVID-19 spread

World swimming championship gold and silver medallist Minna Atherton helped protect health workers from the COVID-19 virus by working at her family’s Brisbane Distillery business which adapted to manufacture and distribute rare hand sanitiser.

World swimming championship gold and silver medallist Minna Atherton helped protect health workers against the COVID-19 virus by working at her family’s Brisbane Distillery business which adapted to manufacture and distribute rare hand sanitiser.

Atherton, who was set to make her Olympic Games debut this year before the coronavirus threat delayed the Games, spent her enforced time away from the pool productively as the health crisis gripped Australia.

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“Towards the start of our shut down period, my dad (Jon) thought he might make some hand sanitiser for some family and friends, so he converted his gin distillery into a hand sanitiser production line,’’ the backstroke ace said.

Minna Atherton in the 100m backstroke final where she finished second during the 18th FINA World Swimming Championships Pic by Delly Carr/Swimming Australia.

“He ended up getting a lot of interest from the general public, health care institutions, and other companies.

“As a result he ended up having a huge number of orders, so for the first few weeks I was working on customer service and answering emails from customers.

“My brothers and a few of our friends were working on the production line and labelling and bottling the hand sanitiser,’’ the Brisbane Grammar Swim Club star said.

Atherton, the world short course backstroke world champion, said it was a fulfilling experience that filled a void in her life when swimming pool training was banned by health authorities.

Minna Atherton with her silver medal. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

“It was quite stressful trying to reply to so many customers but it was definitely a good experience and helped me learn how to deal with a lot of different people,’’ said Atherton.

“It also gave me something to do while I wasn’t swimming.

Minna Atherton after a win during the International Swimming League. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

“It was also definitely rewarding to know that the majority of the hand sanitiser was going to hospitals and other health care workers in need.’’

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Last year Atherton broke through to claim an individual silver medal at the world swimming championships in South Korea.

Atherton also claimed a gold medal as a member of the mixed 4x100m medley team and a silver medal as part of the 4x100m women’s relay side.

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

Then she capped off a grand year by smashing the world short course 100m backstroke record.

Atherton is a Brisbane Girls Grammar School Alumni and past student of Milton State School where she learned to swim.

Coached by David Lush, she has also benefited from being mentored by the great Emily Seebohm who was part of Lush’s Brisbane Grammar swim squad.