Rockhampton to host Qld Country Swimming Championships in 2026

The Beef Capital will play host to the inaugural Queensland Country Swimming Championships next year. Swimming Queensland’s coaching director reveals why the city was an obvious choice.

More than 500 swimmers are set to compete at the Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton in 2026.

Rockhampton has added another string to its sporting bow, chosen to host the inaugural Queensland Country Swimming Championships next year.

More than 500 regional swimmers are expected at the event, to be held at the 2nd World War Memorial Aquatic Centre from January 23 to 25.

It will be hosted by Swimming Queensland, which heralded the event as an “historic moment for our country clubs” in its official announcement.

Shane Kingston, head coach of the Rocky City Swimming Club and lessee of the aquatic centre, was instrumental in the championships coming to the city.

“It’s going to be big for Rockhampton and big for Central Queensland swimming,” he said while poolside at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

Shane Kingston.

“We’re having a meeting this week to finalise qualifying times but we’re predicting potentially over 500 competitors, so a massive event.“

Swimming Queensland’s coaching director Drew McGregor said Rockhampton ticked all the boxes as a host centre.

Its location, the ease with which competitors and their families could get to the city, and the size of the aquatic centre to cater for such a big event were among the factors that made it a “standout”.

He said having Kingston as a touchpoint was also a key consideration, given his connection to the region’s swimming community and the council.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us,” McGregor said.

“It was probably 12 years ago this was first proposed so there’s been a lot of review with it and we’re excited to finally get it off the ground.

“This is a really important pathway event, a good stepping stone.

“It shows we’re looking after and catering for our kids and coaches to do it from where they live and that they don’t have to move to Brisbane or be on the Gold Coast.”

Regional Queensland’s best swimmers will be in action in Rockhampton in January.

Kingston said it was a huge coup for Rockhampton, which continues to enhance its reputation as the state’s sporting capital.

“Swimming Queensland is obviously investing a lot of money into the event,” he said.

“The Rockhampton Regional Council is supporting it and as lessee, I’ve put in a lot of effort up to this point and there’s a lot more effort to come to see if we can secure it for more than the first year.”

The championships will be open to swimmers aged 10 and over, including Multi-Class athletes.

They will come from every region outside the south-east corner.

Kingston said there would be plenty of work to be done in the lead-up to the championships but he was confident.

“We want to make it a great event and really put Rockhampton on the map,” he said.

Originally published as Rockhampton to host Qld Country Swimming Championships in 2026