Sunshine Coast’s top swimmers competing at the World Championship trials

Sunshine Coast athletes are ready to race against the best as the search starts for Australia’s “most elite” swimmers, and their Olympic medallist coach says they have what it takes.

Some of the Sunshine Coast’s most talented swimmers will soon put their training to the test at the Australian World Championship Trails in Melbourne.

Nine athletes, training under the close eye of former Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games medallist Ash Delaney, will compete against Australia’s top swimmers from June 13-18.

Delaney, who began training at St. Andrew Anglican College in 2021, said he was excited to see how the athletes performed.

“There’s only two people in each event that can make the team for the World Championships,” he said.

“You’ve got to get the qualifying time plus finish first or second so anyone that can achieve that is pretty much among the most elite swimmers in Australia.

“Australia has great standards in swimming so it would be a massive achievement for any of them if they can make it and I think although it is a tough ask if you go there planned, prepared and put everything together you have a great chance.”

Delaney said he was proud of his squad and that training was in full swing.

“The sprinters do eight sessions a week including three gym sessions and the mid distance swimmers will do nine sessions a week, three gym sessions and three circuit sessions,” he said.

“The sprinters will average around 30km a week, the mid distance would be around 50km so it’s a pretty big training load and it’s a full time commitment.

“Hardly any of them would be paid or supported so they’ve got to find a little bit of work themselves or the better they do the more sponsors they get but it’s a pretty tough gig.”

See what each athlete had to say below.

Lauren Maguire, 20

Preferred events: 200m, 400m and 800m individual medley

“I didn’t compete at trials last year as I was injured but I’ve been to the Olympic trials,” she said.

“It should be good to see how training has been going and I’ve never been to a Melbourne event so that’s exciting.

“I’d like to do some PB’s and rank decently, that would be the goal.

“Ash is really good, he personalises training for everyone and he treats or interacts with everyone according to their needs.

“He’s quite good in that way as we all do different events and he’s very understanding in that way.”

Isaac Cooper, 19

Preferred events: 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke

“I’ve gone to one world long course before, a world short course and an Olympic Games,” he said.

“I’m really excited, the first challenge is always getting onto the team first so I’m taking it all one step at a time and if I can make the team that would be incredible but I’m just focusing on living in the moment and enjoying the experience.”

Cooper said he didn‘t have any performance-based goals.

“My own personal goal has nothing to do with times or placements as I’m just going there because I want to enjoy racing,” he said.

“I always find that if I enjoy going and if I’m standing behind the blocks a happy person then I always swim to the best of my ability and that’s often in a good time.”

He said the sessions with Delaney had helped him improve massively.

“Ash is awesome, I love coming to training every morning and seeing his face on the pool deck,” he said.

“He really helps push me and the other squad mates along and he’s very good at picking up on our technique and designing a program that’s efficient for each athlete and I don’t think there’s a reason why everyone won’t do well at trials.”

Ruby Storm, 19

Preferred events: 100 butterfly, 200m freestyle and 4x100m mixed relay

Storm won’t attend the World Championship trials next week after already qualifying for the Australian Paralympics team but said her training is in full swing for the Para World Championships in August in England, Manchester.

“I feel like because there’s a few new people on the team now I’m still young but I wouldn’t be the youngest,” she said.

“My aim is to go top five or to even get on the podium.

“Training has been tough, a hard block of training preparing for worlds.”

Storm represented Australia at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, winning a bronze medal, and at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics where she won a silver and bronze medal.

Ryan Bicknell, 21

Preferred events: 50m and 100m breaststroke

“This is my first time attending Worlds trials and I’m very excited,” he said.

“I’m aiming to just do as well as I can really, I’d love to see a PB on the board but I mean you never really know, you’ve just got to go out there and do your best.

“Training has been really good, I moved up here in February last year from Melbourne to train with Ash specifically and it’s been everything I wanted and more.

“I’m really happy with how it’s going.”

Jezze Gorman, 22

Preferred events: 50m and 100m freestyle

“I think this is my second World trials but this is probably the first time I‘m going in with the intent of actually making the team,” he said.

“The 50m freestyle is probably my main goal and I probably have the best chance of making the team from that event.

“Ash is great, he brings a good energy to the squad and always keeps everyone positive.“

Ben Hance, 22

Preferred events: “I’ll be doing everything including the wood chop”

Hance has already qualified to represent the Australian Paralympic team in Manchester in July but hoped to challenge himself further in the coming days.

“I’m the first Paralympic swimmer to ever compete at the trials in multiple events and if I can make a final I’ll probably be the first ever from Australia which is historic in itself,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to it, the training from Ash has been brilliant and I get a lot out of it which is very nice.”

Chloe Rowe-Hagans, 19

Preferred events: 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle

“I went to trials last year which was my first one but I’m again really looking forward to this one,” she said.

“My goal is to execute my race plan, keep a cool head and just enjoy it really.

“Training with Ash is really good, it’s a really enjoyable group and Ash really knows what he’s talking about which is obviously really useful.”

Lewis Blackburn, 23

Preferred events: 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke

“This is my third time at Worlds trials but I haven’t competed the past three trials properly due to injury,” he said.

“This is probably my first time going to trials being I’m fully fit, healthy and ready to go so I’m looking forward to it and it’s very exciting.

“I’m trying to go there to win the 100m backstroke and to do that I need to swim fast but also execute my race plan and what I’m capable of.

“If I stay within what I know I’m able to do and what I’ve been practising I will be able to win it.”

Blackburn said the skill and professionalism that Delaney brings to training has influenced him massively.

“The training has been great, I moved up here in 2021 from Sydney and I hadn’t trialled with Ash or anything I just went off one meeting I had with him,” he said.

“At the time I was still recovering from a shoulder reconstruction but he was very helpful with my move, he never rushed me as he took the time to get me fit.

“He never told me to give up, he showed plenty of patience and it‘s been an awesome experience because he’s worked with me as who I am, not who I should try and be.”

Jack Carr, 22

Preferred events: 50m, 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle

“I think this is my second World Trials and I’m really keen, really looking forward to it,” he said.

“My main aim is to execute my race plan, I don’t really have any goal times or anything, if I can execute well we’ll see what happens.

“I’ve been with Ash since 2017 so it’s always been pretty good, I moved to him from Victoria and he’s a very good coach.”

Georgia Pendergast, 20

Preferred events: 100m and 200m freestyle

“I’ve had injuries and some other things going on the past couple of years so I haven‘t been at the trials for a very long time,” she said.

“I’m excited, my aim is to try and get some PB’s, put some racing plans together and to try and have fun.

“Ash has a lot of belief in me and he always helps me to try and get the most out of my ability.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast’s top swimmers competing at the World Championship trials