Parent’s tell of joy after Tasmanian swimmer Max Giuliani qualifies for the Paris Olympics in 200m freestyle

From the Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club to Paris: Parents tell of their joy at Max’s stunning Olympic achievement.

Years of early starts for swim training and weekends at the Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club have culminated in a trip to the Paris Olympics for proud parents Jo Spargo and Mic Giuliani.

Their son Max Giuliani, 20, is off to Paris after a stunning win at the Olympic trials in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

After pacing himself in the first three laps of the men’s 200m freestyle Giuliani pulled in front in the final seconds to win with a time of 1:45:83.

Ms Spargo described her son’s performance in his 9pm race as “just incredible”.

Max Giuliani reacts after winning the Men’s 200m Freestyle Final during the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“Just watching him hit the wall, he went from fourth and then he went from sixth and I just thought oh my goodness, that last 50m. My husband has still got no voice today, I don’t think I’ve yelled so much ever,” she said.

“We are all very tired because nobody slept very well. Just the adrenaline and the excitement and it was a very late night. Max walked in the door about midnight. All of our phones were going ballistic.

“I still can’t believe that I’m a parent of an Olympian.”

Tasmanian swimmer Max Giuliani with mum Jo Spargo and dad Mic Giuliani after Max won the men's 200m freestyle and a spot on the team for the Paris Olympics

Giuliani grew up at Carlton and went to St Virgil’s and Guilford Young College.

He spent much of his spare time either in the sea or in a pool.

“We’ve always lived by the beach in Tasmania and both of the kids have always loved the water. He did surf life saving and ocean swimming,” Ms Spargo said.

“I always knew he had it in him from the time he was a little boy he talked about how he was going to go to the Olympics.”

Tasmanian Swimmer Max Giuliani, at Carlton Park where he grew up. Picture: Chris Kidd

Giuliani moved to the Gold Coast in 2022, following his Hobart Aquatic Club coach Paul Crosswell the Miami Swim Club.

Ms Spargo said her son’s decision to move to the Gold Coast aged 18 to pursue his swimming dream had been challenging for the family.

“That was really hard, I think if (swimming coach) Paul Crosswell hadn’t left to go to Miami, he would have stayed in Tasmania. He really wanted to stay in Tasmania,” she said.

The job is still not done for Max Giuliani at the Olympic trials – he is due to swim in the qualifying event for the men’s 100m freestyle on Thursday.

After the trials there won’t be much time to reflect, with the team to be announced on Saturday, orientation on Sunday and the team due to travel to Paris next week for training camps.

Giuliani’s proud family will join him in Paris closer to the Olympics, which start on July 26.