Tokyo Olympic medal hopeful Minna Atherton back where it all started at a Brisbane Swimming Association meet
Eleven months ago under the glare of international attention Brisbane’s Minna Atherton broke the 100m backstroke short course world record. Last weekend she returned to the pool for the first time since the COVID-19 shut down – and broke another record at the Brisbane Swimming Association short course meet.
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Eleven months ago under the glare of international attention Brisbane swimmer Minna Atherton broke the 100m backstroke short course world record in historic Budapest.
Last weekend she returned to the pool for the first time since the COVID-19 shut down – and broke another Brisbane Swimming Association short course meet.
In her debut swim for the Moreton Bay Swimming Club, Atherton, club mate Calypso Sheridan and Centenary Rackley middle distance champion Samuel Short starred at the first major gathering of Queensland swim talent since the health crisis started in mid-March.
Atherton has three swimming world championship medals in her possession and is the reigning world short course 100m word record holder, but she was just as happy back where it all started – at the Chandler Aquatic Centre – rubbing shoulders with the rank and file of Queensland club swimming.
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“We like going back to those things because that is what she grew up on,’’ said her coach David Lush.
“I see value with her giving back to her community.’’
As a Milton State School student Atherton used to attend Brisbane swimming junior age meets while watching the likes of Emily Seebohm and Libby Trickett strut their stuff in the pool.
And now she is one of those stars swimmers young swimmers look up toward.
Lush said when Atherton, a Brisbane Girls Grammar School alumni, was stroking her way to the BSA short course 100m back stroke last weekend, “the whole place went silent’’.
“They were in awe of this technician at work,’’ Lush said.
“It was the first time she has swam competitively a 100m backstroke since breaking the world record.
“It was a really cool display for all those young kids.’’
Moreton Bay club mate Sheridan also broke Leisel Jones’ 17 year old 200m breaststroke record at the meet.
“Most of the kids looking on were not even born when Leisel first broke that record,’’ Lush said.
“But if you are knocking down times done by Leisel Jones, you know you are doing pretty well.’’
Short, who has joined fellow elite rookies Bronte Job and Tom Neill coached by Damien Jones at Rackley Centenary, produced a stunning 800m time of 7:43.85 which put him in elite company.
Short then stormed to a time of 1:47.63 in the 200m freestyle and 14:52.54 in the 1500m.
Short said he was “very happy with his 800m swim’’ and was pleased to do a 1500m PB as well.
All up Short broke seven BSA records, one Queensland record, three Queensland all-comers records and one fastest of all time Australian 16 years boys in 800m record.
He said after all his changes of a new coach and new club, his performances indicated the hard work was paying off.