Freestyle champion Max Giuliani says Tasmanian Institute of Sport needs a swimming program

The island state’s next gold fish believes the lack of Tasmanian Institute of Sport support is forcing swimmers interstate.

THE island state’s next gold fish believes the lack of Tasmanian Institute of Sport support is forcing swimmers interstate.

Carlton’s Max Giuliani has just returned from the Australian aged championships with gold in the under-15 200m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle, both in Tasmanian open record times.

The choice he must make is whether to follow the likes of Ariarne Titmus and move interstate or stay and try to make it from here under the ­tutelage of his current coach, Paul Crosswell, at the Hobart Aquatic Club.

The Year 10 St Virgil’s College student hopes to do the latter.

“You could make it from here,” Giuliani said.

“From here you have to travel and work a lot harder, and maybe if the TIS got their act together, that would help a lot.

“They (the TIS) don’t give any swimmers the support, they don’t have a swimming program.

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Max Giuliani after winning under-15 gold at the 200m freestyle at the Australian Age Championships. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“I definitely think that needs addressing.

“It would keep swimmers in Tasmania. That is why everyone moves because they don’t have the support of the TIS.”

The TIS offers programs in athletics, cycling, hockey and rowing, and development programs in canoe slalom and sailing, but not swimming.

It offers no individual scholarships for swimmers.

However, it does have a relationship with three swimmers — Titmus, Jacob Vincent and Jacob Templeton — as associate athletes but all three are no longer based in Tasmania.

The TIS did not wish to comment when contacted yesterday.

Giuliani, who trains three-hours a day, five-days a week in the pool with an additional three one-hour gym sessions a week, will soon head to the AIS in Canberra for a training camp and already has big plans for the future.

“Next year I would like to make the Australian junior team (under-18s) and then see where I go from there,” Giuliani said.

“I only just missed the junior world championships qualifying time this year, so I’m not far off so hopefully next year.”