South Grafton swimmer Andrea Thomson topples records to make state team

Teen superfish Andrea ‘Torpedo’ Thomson is making a splash in the pool and the ocean - and continues to smash longstanding records.

Andrea Thomson, 15, of Grafton receives a prize from Australian Olympic medallist Brooke Hanson.

Grafton superfish Andrea “Torpedo” Thomson is smashing records and personal bests on her way to state swimming glory.

Andrea obliterated nine records at the South Grafton high school swimming carnival at the Maclean pool in February.

The 15-year-old smashed the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly records to claim the age champion title.

Andrea Thomson of South Grafton High School continues to make waves in the pool and in open water.

Some of the school records broken were three decades old.

Thomson and team then competed in the Mid North Coast Zone swimming carnival in Coffs Harbour.

Her performance qualified her to advance to the regional swimming carnival held in Alstonville on Monday, 27 March.

The 15-year-old won six out of the seven events along with a close second place.

Again, Thomson took home the U15 years girls age champion for the zone meet.

Andrea Thomson of Grafton High School continues to make waves in the pool and in open water.

The teen made qualifying times for the 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley, and 800m freestyle.

Thomson will travel to Sydney Olympic Park and compete in 10 events over three days from 3-5 May at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre.

To keep in shape Thomson also competes in open water ocean swims.

Mum, Kerry Bowers-Thomson said the teen celebrated her birthday the same day of the Coffs Ocean Swim.

“Andrea had her 15th birthday on the Sunday, 26th,” she said.

“Andrea swam Open ladies placing her 3rd overall in the women's field of 203.

“Her placing overall in the male and female field of over 400 was tenth.”

Andrea Thomson and Australian Olympic medallist Brooke Hanson.

Evans Head swimmer Abbie Yourell, 16, brought home first place in the Coffs Ocean Swim with a time of 29.40.

Yourell also shattered established swimming records at the Evans River K-12 swimming carnival in March with these swims:

– 16yr Girls 50m Free in a time of 30.51 (C. Williams 31.24 – 2000)

– 16yr Girls 50m Backstroke in a time of 34.95 (K. Gardner 36.14 – 2001)

– 16yr Girls 50m Butterfly in a time of 33.31 (C. Williams 36.97 – 2000)

– 16yr Girls 100m Freestyle in a time of 1:08.67 (C. Williams 1:08.91 – 2000)

– Girls Open 100m Backstroke in a time of 1:15.29 (A Yourell 1:16.32 – 2022)

– 15/16yr Girls 200m IM in a time of 2:43.06 (A. Yourell 2:50.19 – 2022)

– 16yr Girls Open 200m Free in a time of 2:25.39 (K. Gardner 2:25.64 – 2000)

Shannon Robinson (right) with Australian Olympic medallist Brooke Hanson.

Fellow Grafton swimmer Shannon Robinson took home silver in the male 2km Coffs Ocean Swim at the Jetty in Coffs Harbour.

Robinson swam in the General mens, but his time of 28:56 placed him second overall of all males from across the East Coast.

Ballina athlete Louis St Laurent, 64, cut a 32.38 time while 53 year-old Byron Bay swimmer Andrew Grace made the 2km splash in 39.54.

Bangalow competitor Mick Mossman, 63, swam in 40.25 and David Alexander from Brunswick Heads clocked 47.35.