Push for lifesaving to become Commonwealth Games sport

Surf Coast Nippers participants could be tomorrow’s Commonwealth Games athletes as the push for lifesaving events to be included gathers momentum.

Lifesavers could be lining up for a Commonwealth Games medal in the Geelong region under an International Life Saving (ILS) Federation and Life Saving Victoria (LSV) bid to include the sport at the 2026 event.

ILS president Graham Ford said with the Commonwealth Games aquatics program being held in the Geelong region, LSV recommended that if successful, lifesaving events take place in the Geelong-Surf Coast area to consolidate aquatic events to one region.

Lifesaving, encompassing pool and ocean activities, is being sought as one of up to five additional sports at the 2026 games, with a decision expected later in 2022.

The proposed mix of lifesaving events includes manikin carries; super lifesaver, which is a technical and endurance event; ocean swimming; rescue board events; and beach events which include athletes sprinting on soft sand.

Mr Ford said with lifesaving athletes already participating in large-scale events such as the world championships, which attracted more than 5000 athletes from 148 countries, and Australia hosting the largest lifesaving sports event, the Australian Championships, which in 2022 saw 7200 competitors flock to the Gold Coast, the Commonwealth Games was the logical next step.

Ocean Grove SLSC member Teagan Reade in action. Picture: Supplied

“We are thrilled to work with Life Saving Victoria on this expression of interest to see lifesaving become a part of the Commonwealth Games for the first time in regional Victoria,” Mr Ford said.

Most Commonwealth countries are formal members of the ILS.

And at the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships, Commonwealth countries won 25 of 42 gold medals.

Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club member and senior athlete, 17-year-old Stephanie Reade said she had always dreamt of the opportunity to represent her country.

“As a local, the possibility that an Australian lifesaving team could be competing at the Commonwealth Games here in Geelong is unbelievable,” she said.

“To make that team would be such an honour, and it’s definitely a strong motivator.”

Stephanie’s sister and fellow Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club member, 13-year-old youth athlete Teagan Reade, said Geelong was the perfect place for the sport.

“The waves are clean and can range in sizes, we have well maintained pools and our sand isn’t grainy but it’s still soft enough to make it a fair race,” she said.

LSV chief executive Cath Greaves said the opportunity would be a pull for athletes to build long-term lifesaving sports careersin Victoria.

International sporting federations were invited to submit an expression of interest form to have their sport added to the program, with the process closing last month.

“We’re working hard to deliver the Commonwealth Games so that athletes, fans and the sports can prepare for a spectacular sporting competition,” a state government spokesman said.

“We will announce the sporting program once it is finalised.”

Originally published as Push for lifesaving to become Commonwealth Games sport