Meet 21 of the top swimmers competing at the All Ages Swimming Championships

The next crop of Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimming stars will be on display at the 2023 All Ages Swimming Championships this weekend. Meet 21 of the best here.

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Sophie Martin and Harrison Biddell. Picture: Tertius Pickard

The next crop of Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimming stars will be on display at the 2023 All Ages Swimming Championships this weekend. 

From April 7-15, Queensland's top youth swimmers will head to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre to showcase why they deserve to have their names up in lights.

Meet some of the best competing here:

Inez Miller

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Inez Miller from WA. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 16

Club: St Hilda’s (WA)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: 2022 Australian Age Champion in Girls 16 years 400m freestyle

Isabella Boyd

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Isabella Boyd. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 17

Club: Nunawading (VIC)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Isabella Boyd from VIC. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Isabella Johnson

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Isabella Johnson from NSW. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 16

Club: SOPAC (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: Silver in 16 years 100m & 200m breaststroke at 2022 Australian Age Championships & Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Jamie De Lutiis

Age: 17

Club: Wests Illawarra (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: 2022 Australian Champion in the 16 years 100m freestyle

Jessica Cole

Age: 15

Club: Wests Illawarra (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: 3rd at 2022 Australian Age Championships in 15 years 100m butterfly

Mikayla Bird

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Mikayla Bird from Bond University, QLD. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 15

Club: Bond University (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Five time Australian Champion at 2022 Australian Age Championships

Olivia Wunsch

Age: 16

Club: Carlile (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Olympia Pope

Age: 14

Club: Somerset (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: Australian Champion 18/u 200 breaststroke at 2022 Australian Short Course Championships in 14 year girls NSW record

Sally Vagg

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Sally Vagg from QLD. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 16

Club: Rocky City (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Australian Age Champion 2021 & 2022 in 200m butterfly & Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Sophie Martin

Age: 17

Club: Somerville House (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: 2022 Australian Champion in 16 years 50 & 100 breaststroke and 200m IM & Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Tahlia Hanson

Age: 16

Club: Element Swimming (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Silver in 15 years 200m butterfly at 2022 Australian Age Championships

Tameeka Johnson

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Tameeka Johnson from NSW. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 17

Club: Sans Souci Sea Devils (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: Bronze in 200m backstroke at 2022 Australian Age Championships

Anders McAlpine

Age: 17

Club: Chandler (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Australian Champion in 16 years 400, 800 & 1500 freestyle & Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Anthony Boussounis

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Anthony Boussounis from VIC. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 18

Club: Surrey Park (VIC)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Daniel McLoughlin

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Daniel McLoughlin from NSW. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 18

Club: Kincumber Pacific Dolphins (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: 2022 Australian Champion in 17 years 200m butterfly & Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Fergus McLachlan

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Fergus McLachlan from SA. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 18

Club: Norwood (SA)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: 4th 100m backstroke as a Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Harrison Biddell

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Harrison Biddell from SA. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 18

Club: Marion (SA)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: 2022 Australian Age Champion in 17 years boys 200m breaststroke

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Harrison Biddell from SA. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Ike Martinez

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Ike Martinez from QLD. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 16

Club: Rackley (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Kai Lilienthal

Age: 17

Club: Knox Pymble (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: 2022 Australian Age Champion in Men’s 16 years 100 butterfly 53.84 & NSW Record in 50m butterfly

Marcus Da Silva

Age: 16

Club: Cranbrook Aquatic (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Noah Kamprad

Age: 18

Club: Miami (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

STANDOUTS FROM NATIONAL JUNIOR CAMP

The next crop of Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimming stars have been hard at work the past week at Swimming Australia’s National Flippers camp on the Gold Coast.

The camp, which involved 41 athletes from across Australia, was designed to prepare swimmers aged 15 to 21-years-old for the next big step in their career: making the Dolphins team.

While the athletes won’t likely make Olympic selection for Paris 2024, these young stars could very well be the next Emma McKeon or Kyle Chalmers.

Meet the athletes here:

Emily Nobbs

Age: 21

Club: Cruiz (ACT)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: Selection in the 2023 National Flipper Squad

Georgie Roper

Age: 17

Club: Miami (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii & 5th 1500m freestyle at 2022 Australian Championships

Hannah Fredericks

Age: 19

Club: St Peters (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: 4th in 100m backstroke at Japan Open Championships

Kalyce Pressler

Age: 18

Club: Silver City Swim Club (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: Multiple gold across a number of Australian Age Championships

Layla Day

Age: 19

Club: Bond University (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: Finalist at 2022 Australian Championships & finalist at 2022 Japan Open

Lia Wiese

Age: 18

Club: USC Spartans (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Finalist Australian Open Short Course Championships 200m freestyle & IM

Lucy Dring

Age: 20

Club: Sunshine Coast Grammar (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Two A finals at 2022 Australian Championships & 5th in 200m freestyle at 2022 Japan Open Championships

Reidel Smith

Age: 20

Club: Nunawading (VIC)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: Silver in 200 Breaststroke at 2022 Australian Age Championships

Alex Fahey

Age: 19

Club: Iona (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Member of Australian team for 2021 World Junior Championships

Alexander Foreman

Age: 17

Club: Kincumber Pacific Dolphins (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: 2022 Australian Champion 16 years 100 & 200m breaststroke

Alexander Grant

Age: 21

Club: Miami (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: Member of Australian Senior team to 2022 World Short Course, Melbourne in 800m freestyle

Angus Menzies

Age: 20

Club: Knox Pymble (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: 2022 Australian Champions 20 years and under 200m breaststroke 2:14.31 & 4th in US Open Championships in 200m breaststroke 2:12.20

Bailey Lello

Age: 19

Club: Churchie (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: 2022 Australian Champion 17 years 100m breaststroke

Cameron Jordan

Age: 21

Club: Bendigo East (VIC)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: 2019 World Junior Championships team member

Haig Buckingham

Age: 18

Club: SOPAC (NSW)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: Australian Records in 16 & 17 years 50m breaststroke & Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Max Giuliani

Age: 19

Club: Miami (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Freestyle

Achievements: 2020 & 2021 Australia Junior Dolphins teams to World Junior Championships & Junior Pan Pacific Championships

Matthew Magnussen

Age: 18

Club: Chandler (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Backstroke

Achievements: 5th in A final in 100 & 200m backstroke as a Member of Australian Junior Dolphins to 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii

Thomas Nankervis

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Tom Nankervis from St Peters QLD. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 19

Club: St Peter’s Western (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Butterfly

Achievements: Silver medal at Australian Age Championships in 17yrs 100m butterfly, Finalist at 2022 Australian Championships in 100m butterfly

Yannick Zwolsman

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Yannick Zwolsman from Southport QLD. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Age: 18

Club: Southport Olympic (QLD)

Discipline/stroke: Breaststroke

Achievements: 2021 Australian Age Champion & Queensland record holder in 17 years 50 & 100m breaststroke

Olympic medal threat: Swimming Aus overhauls key program

Swimming Australia has overhauled its junior development program following concerns the country does not possess enough “depth” to medal in form stroke events in the future.

The change in training style, which was used by Swimming Australia many years ago, has been reintroduced over the past week during the national Flippers camp at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

The camp, which involves 41 athletes from across Australia, is designed to prepare swimmers aged 15 to 19-years-old looking to gain selection into the Dolphins squad for future Olympics and international events.

Dolphins Head Coach Leigh Nugent said the group had been split up into four squads of butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke and 200m freestyle swimmers, with different coaching teams assigned to each stroke.

Coach Leigh Nugent. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“The big focus (this week) is on the form stroke events – backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly – because we do have some depth, we’ve got world record holders like Kaylee McKeown in the 100m backstroke and Zac Stubblety-Cook in the breaststroke, but we don’t have enough depth to be competitive in the world,” Nugent said.

“We’ve got to push for that for 2028 and 2032 (Olympic Games), that’s what these groups are focused on.”

Nugent said the camps training format was based on that of the Dolphins, and had been reintroduced after junior athletes struggled to adapt to the senior training program.

“We’re trying to get the athletes to lift to a higher level of training,” Nugent said.

“If they’re going to work their way up into more senior performance levels, then most of them who are training in age group programs, they’ve got to look way beyond that.

“And often their coaches or themselves don’t really know what that looks like.

“To make the transition from age group swimming to senior level is quite a big jump, and this really facilitates this.”

But despite the entire group’s Olympic aspirations, General Manager of Performance Pathways Gary Barclay said only a third of the athletes will go on to live out that dream.

“All of these kids are aspirational at competing in the Olympics or representing Australia in swimming.

“We know on average, if we as coaches do the right thing and the athletes do the right thing, 30 per cent can progress to an Olympic team, you’re probably looking at Paris but more so the following Olympics with this group.

“We also know about 50 per cent will represent Australia at some stage.”

The group have also been training with four athletes from Japan, who have been integrated into the camp drive the performances of the young stars as well as share foreign drills and skills.

Swimmers gathered for training at the Dolphins emerging swimmers camp in Southport. Sophie Martin and Harrison Biddell. Picture: Tertius Pickard

18-year-old South Australian Harrison Biddell is one member of the camp who joined the squad for the first time after making a sharp rise in the sport in recent years.

“It’s been fantastic, it’s my first experience with the Australian team and to meet so many new people and coaches, that’s been an incredible experience,” Biddell said.

“Also to get a fresh perspective on how I swim and how others swim, especially when there’s other boys in the pool who swim a lot faster than me.

“We have more breaststrokers here than at my home club, so to get to come here and focus on my main stroke against boys who are right there next to me in competition has been really special.”

Like many in the group, Biddell said his sights were set on LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

“That’s my dream, it has been since I watched my first Olympics at eight years old.”