Future swim star’s inspiring comeback

When Tahlia Dilkes became a five time world surf life saving champion in late 2018, it marked the sweet conclusion to a two and a half year battle with her body.

When Tahlia Dilkes became a five time world surf life saving champion in late 2018, it marked the sweet conclusion to a two and a half year battle with her body.

The emerging surf life saving star has been making waves on the Gold Coast swimming scene for years until a back injury derailed her fledging career and forced her to take a break from the one thing she loves most.

Tahlia Dilkes with her medals at the Surf Life Saving World Championships in Adelaide. Picture supplied.

“It was quite painful,” she said.

“I had three months completely out of the pool and wasn’t allowed to swim at all.”

She missed the pool so much that her physio allowed her to do some water rehabilitation exercises but only under the careful eye of her mum Heidi who didn’t trust her to not take a stroke.

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It took the 17-year-old an entire year to regain full fitness.

“I’m not actually sure how I got the injury,” the towering 6’2” athlete said.

“We think I grew too quickly because I’m quite tall and lanky and didn’t have enough muscle to hold myself up!”

Tahlia Dilkes after racing at the Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships. Picture supplied.

Along with training around 30 hours a week, Dilkes is balancing her lofty sporting ambitions with year 12 studies and a college leader role at AB Paterson College.

“It’s very difficult,” Dilkes said of balancing all her commitments.

“I have to be very organised and communicate a lot to make sure I get enough sleep and study in.”

Dilkes, who started surf life saving at age nine, is one of the early nominees for the Gold Coast Bulletin’s local sports star awards after her mum nominated her.

“She’s always been my biggest supporter since day one,” she said.

“Both my parents come from a sporting background (rowing) so they’re always giving me tips and supporting me.

“I would love to be named as the Gold Coast local star as I would love for our youth to know that with goals, determination, commitment and a supporting team around you that anything is achievable.”

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The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games baton bearer is hoping that her initial brush with international sport isn’t her last.

Dilkes has aspirations to represent Australia in the pool at the Paris Olympics as well as continue her surf life saving world domination at the 2020 World Championships in Italy.

“Because I’m still growing and putting on muscle, we can’t really figure out what my ideal event is,” Dilkes said of her Olympic aspirations.

“At the moment it could be the 200m and 400m freestyle events.”