Maddy Gough inspires young Coffs Harbour swimmers in Olympic final
‘Just because you come from Coffs Harbour doesn’t mean you can’t become a world class swimmer’.
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Coffs Harbour’s own Maddy Gough has done the region proud in her first ever Olympic Games.
The former Coffs Harbour swimmer was up against it in the women’s 1500m freestyle event in Tokyo on Wednesday, fighting hard to take eighth place.
American swimming sensation Katie Ledecky blasted away the entire field to take her first gold of the games as Gough trailed more than 20 seconds behind.
Gough couldn’t quite match her blistering form in the lead-up to the event in which she smashed both the Australian 1500m shortcourse and long-course records.
Swimming at the games was a lifelong dream for the 22-year-old who now lives on the Gold Coast where she moved as a 16-year-old to make that Olympic dream a reality.
The Coffs Harbour swimming community was right behind her too, with former coach Dean Laurence saying he has been using her achievements, as well as those of Paralympic swimmer Maddie McTernan, as motivation for the next generation of swimmers.
He said while her swim in the final wouldn’t have been the outcome she wanted, she had made a “world class field” and done a remarkable job to become an Olympian.
“Everyone is Coffs Harbour is proud of (Maddy),” Laurence said. “I take my hat off too her.”
“The kids at the pool had big banners up everywhere and a sign that had ‘Go Maddy’ on it. They are all still hyped up.”
The impact having a homegrown Olympian can have on young sportspeople can’t be underestimated and Mr Laurence said she set a great example for the current crop of young swimmers.
“She swam in that pool and has done the same sets (the kids) are doing and there is no reason why they can’t take that and run with it,” he said.
“Just because you come from Coffs Harbour doesn’t mean you can’t become a world class swimmer.”
Meanwhile, Coffs Harbour’s other swimming sensation Madeleine McTernan is gearing up for the Paralympic Games which kick off on August 24.
McTernan, who also left Coffs Harbour to pursue an Olympic dream, set a world record in the 400m Freestyle multi-class in December.
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