Rivalry driving best friends Chelsea Hodges and Emma Siddle to Junior Pan Pacs success in Fiji

A RIVALRY forged during gruelling training sessions on the Gold Coast has put two rising Aussie stars on the path to glory at next month’s Junior Pan Pacs.

A RIVALRY forged during gruelling training sessions at Southport Olympic Swimming Club has put best friends Chelsea Hodges and Emma Siddle on the path to glory at next month’s Junior Pan Pacs.

The pair, 16 and 17 respectively, have become inseparable since uniting at Southport Olympic five years ago, continuing their rise together at April’s Australian Age Championships in Sydney.

Competing in the girls’ 16 years 100m breaststroke, Hodges won the national crown for a fourth-straight year to go with gold in the 4x100m medley relay and bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Best friends Emma Siddle and Chelsea Hodges, who swim together at Southport Olympic Swim Club, will compete at the Junior Pan Pacs Fiji in next month. Picture: Mike Batterham

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In the girls’ 17-18 years, Siddle was victorious in the 200m backstroke and finished third in the 400m IM.

Their performances have put them on the plane to Junior Pan Pacs in Fiji from August 23-27, while Hodges will also compete at the Youth Olympics in Argentina from October 6-18.

As she prepares for the biggest moments of her career, the Benowa State High School student said their friendship had proved the making of them as international competitors.

“We definitely push each other in training,” Hodges, who swam PBs in the 100m (1:09.13) and 200m (2:36.5) at age nationals, said.

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“We always try to encourage each other when the other person is struggling. We’ve been friends for almost five years so it was good to make that (Junior Pan Pacs) team with her.

“It will be a fun experience for the both of us. I made the junior worlds team last year for the first time and I came seventh in the final of the 50m breaststroke, so that was an experience to do the heat, semis and final.

Siddle and Hodges hit the water. Picture: Mike Batterham

“I’d like to be in with a chance for a medal at Junior Pan Pacs because I know some of the girls that are swimming there and their speed. At Youth Olympics, it’s just kind of go in and have a go because this is my first time in a village with other countries around me all the time.”

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Fourth in the 50m breaststroke at Commonwealth Games trials in February-March, Hodges’ rise has been all the more impressive after fighting through years of injury troubles.

“I had surgery two years ago on my hip so last year was the first year where I could actually swim breaststroke. I tore some cartilage and had some extra bone growing where it shouldn’t be so I had to get all of that removed and fixed.

“(Age nationals) was a good meet. It was the best one I’ve had for about three years. The main goal was to make both Australian junior teams.”

Fellow Coast teen Thomas Hauck (All Saints) will also compete at Junior Pan Pacs.