Rio hopeful a star in the water but still has feet on the ground
QUAKERS HILL’s star swimmer Jacob Hansford has landed in Rio with hopes to make waves in the Olympic Games.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Teen singing star on the rise
- Young netballers are western Sydney’s answer to champs Diamonds
- Blacktown City FC’s Danny Choi scores amazing goal from 70m
QUAKERS HILL’s star swimmer Jacob Hansford has landed in Rio with hopes to make waves in the Olympic Games.
The 20-year-old secured a coveted spot in the Australian men’s 4 x 200m Olympic relay team after finishing fifth at the selection trials in Adelaide in April.
He also finished fifth in the 400m freestyle.
Only first and second placegetters automatically qualify for selection.
Jacob swam a personal best time at the trials of 1.47.40s — an improvement of 0.8 seconds.
The pressure is now on the first-time Olympian to keep improving as only the two fastest swimmers in the Olympic heat will join Cameron McEvoy and Thomas Fraser-Holmes in the relay.
The swimming finals are scheduled for Tuesday August 9.
But Jacob says he is keeping his head in the game and taking it a step at a time.
“I’m feeling really good, soaking it all up and enjoying the experience along with it,” he told the Blacktown Advocate from Alabama where the swim team attended staging camp before heading to Rio on Sunday.
“I’m trying not to get so caught up with the racing just yet, got to take the training camp day by day,” he said.
“At the moment I have a normal training regime, just cutting down the kilometres up until racing,” Jacob said.
The swimmer is one of 263 Olympic rookies on the Australian Olympic team.
Raised in a family of avid swimmers, Jacob first jumped in the pool when he was four years old and has never looked back.
“My family are extremely supportive as always, and they’re excited to see me race!” he said.
Jacob grew up training with his brother Caleb at Blacktown Aquatic Centre under coach Chris Myers.
His talent earned him the Blacktown Advocate 2012 Junior Sports Star title.
Mother Noelene Hansford is extremely proud that Jacob’s Olympic dream is finally coming to fruition.
“From age 13 things sort of changed for Jacob,” Mrs Hansford said.
“His goal even as far back as seven years ago were to make it to the 2016 Rio Olympics.”
“For the last seven years, swimming was the priority and everything else worked around it. Even uni, part time work and family came after swimming,” Mrs Hansford said.
“I take my hat off to him. He is very humble and knows he has to stay focused.”
Jacob made his international debut in 2015 at the World University Games in South Korea where he swam to silver in the 4x200m relay and an individual bronze in the men’s 200m freestyle.
The 2015 Hong Kong World Cup proved to be another career highlight after he took home the bronze in the men’s 200m behind fellow Aussie Dan Smith.
Jacob’s two main events are the 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly, but gave up the butterfly to focus on the freestyle race before the trials in Adelaide.
“There are so many freestyle competitors so we knew it was very close,” Mrs Hansford said of the trials.
“He sacrificed one thing and put all his eggs in one basket. It was quite a shock that he was selected but by the same token, we knew he did have a good chance he would make it as well.”
Jacob trains at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre under coach Adam Kable, who Jacob credits for his Olympic success.
“He is very good at what he does and I guess that’s the whole reason I am where I am right now,” Jacob said.
When he is not swimming, Jacob juggles part time work at the Blacktown Workers Club serving coffees and pulling beers.
“He is such a pleasant young man, you wouldn’t find one person who would say anything bad about him,” customer service manager Darren Williamson said.
“He is a busy boy. Jacob trains in the morning then does a four or five-hour shift, then goes back to training.”
“The club will probably stop when it is Jacob’s race. We are so proud of him — he is a Blacktown boy through and through,” Mr Williamson said.
Despite his packed schedule, Jacob was always the first to put his hand up to swim for his school’s events at Wyndham College, where he completed Year 11 and 12.
“Some elite swimmers wouldn’t swim for their school but Jacob always put his school swimming first — a true team player,” the school’s sports co-ordinator Jeff Smith said.
“Jacob was dedicated to his swimming and was training morning and night for his squads and things, but would never miss a school relay race.’’
When he’s not in the pool or pouring beers, Hansford is completing studies in sports business.
GREAT LEAP INTO GLORY
FABRICE Lapierre, who grew up in Quakers Hill before gaining a scholarship to a US university, is one of Australia’s best track and field medal hopes.
The long jumper, who went to Mary Immaculate Primary School at Quakers Hill before his athletics ability took him to Westfield Sports High, is ranked among the world’s top three.
Lapierre, 32, is in peak form having won silver at this year’s IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon.
He made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games but missed the 2012 London Games due to a hamstring injury.
In a recent TV interview he said would put his “heart and soul” into winning gold for Australia at Rio.
The long jump events will be held on August 13-14.
High-ranking bikie hit with 46 illegal hunting charges
A high-ranking Bandido in Sydney’s west has been hit with several firearm and drug supply charges after a raid of his home also uncovered pig dog collars with electronic shock probes.
Meet the talented young artists from ARTEXPRESS 2025
The annual art exhibition which shows some of the most outstanding and exemplary artworks across NSW by HSC visual arts students has opened. Meet the students and see their amazing works.