Manly’s Josh Kerr brushes virus to swim for Australian Junior Dolphins in Israel

He’s the northern beaches schoolboy who battled illness and a limited preparation to chase his swimming dream. Now with a swag of medals he’s headed onto the world stage.

Josh Kerr has been selected in the Dolphins squad, 2023. Picture: Manly Swimming Club.

He’s the rising Manly Swimming Club star who defied the coronavirus and is now heading to Israel for the world junior championships in September.

When his head was glued to a pillow last November this selection dream looked remote.

In a remarkable turnaround, the 17-year-old won his place in the Dolphins squad of 30 after winning six medals at last month’s national championships on the Gold Coast.

Known for his all-round prowess, the St Luke’s Grammar student medalled in every stroke except butterfly and in Israel will take to the blocks in the 200m individual medley.

As the first Manly swimmer to earn national selection since Charli Brown in 2019, Kerr’s coach Justin Rothwell could scarcely believe the magnitude of his star pupils achievement.

(L-R) Coach Justin Rothwell with Josh Kerr and his collection of six medals from the Australian Championships. Picture: Manly Swimming Club

“Josh not only got the virus but it was long Covid and he had heart inflammation,” said Rothwell, his coach of seven years.

“It really stalled his progress and limited his training program to about 10 weeks. But remarkably, he swam personal best times.

“Prior to the nationals he was ranked 21st in the 50m backstroke and he ended up with the gold medal. In the 100m breaststroke he was ranked 15th and came second.

“So we are thinking with a 17-week prep before the world champs he’ll improve even more.”

Josh Kerr before and during the 200m Individual Medley at the Australian Championships, April 2023. Picture: A Hunter - Fotodragon

Quizzed on the prospect of a medal in September, Rothwell wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

“At the nationals Josh recorded two-minutes and two-seconds in the 200m individual medley. But he’ll need to be three or four seconds faster to be among the medals at the worlds so there’s plenty to work on.”

Despite Kerr’s diverse sporting talent, at the moment he has one eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“Josh also has background as a surf lifesaver, and he’s great mates with Conner Maggs who just won four gold medals at the Aussie champs in Perth,” Rothwell said.

“He would have been very successful over there. But he chose the pool because he really wanted to make sure he made the Dolphins team.”

Now with the bad luck in the rear-view mirror, Kerr is back in the water, focused on a program that includes up to a backbreaking 60km per week.