AUSTRALIAN AGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Swimming Australia has wrapped up the national Age Championships with the following insight that needs no edit:

Fifteen national records, nine days of racing and one pool brimming with prodigious talent.

The Australian Age Championships wrapped up tonight and inside the hot, chlorine-scented air of the Brisbane Aquatic Centre it was almost impossible not to dream of LA and beyond.

It was another night of stellar racing from Australia’s brightest stars with budding teenagers Henry Allan, Thomas Booth, Mikayla Bird and Macey Sheridan - just to name a few - wrapping up their respective age group campaigns.

For some, it was their first step up to the national stage, for others an opportunity to be selected for the World Junior Championships in Romania later this year.

Others like Albury’s Sienna Toohey, who broke two national records, also used the championships as a springboard for the Australian Open Championships from April 21-24.

In the all-important club point score, Carlile (2009) – a name that has been at the forefront of swimming since 1946 thanks to founders Forbes and Ursula – won on point score ahead of St Peters (1787) an Knox Pymble (1757).

In doing so, Carlile, based in Sydney, broke the  decade-long dominance of St Peters and claimed the title for the first time since 1989:

Mentor of and to mentors, Bill Sweeenham, who played a key role in helping to mould the Carlile set-up with . Chris Nesbit and Adam Mallet, with John Coutts and Tim Ford In an effort to raise standards in NSW, sent a fine note of congratulations to Team Carlile:

Adam … please pass on my very best wishes to all the staff.  A well deserved and excellent result for all. Especially Chris ; yourself and Tim Ford.  I cannot express how happy I am for all from this result.  Most importantly you all provide a presence of professional pride. Chris and your incredible influence no doubt.  Walk tall.  John Coutts will be cheering from the rafters.“

He also opined: “In my opinion this is by far and away the most disciplined team in Australian sport. All due to their coaching staff.”

"Integrity and Courage for Life" ... which is why ...

SOS awards the Carlile Cup as its Lifetime Achievement award every year. The 2024 honour went to coach Jon Urbanchek, posthumously:

The Carlile Cup For Lifetime Achievement Goes To Jon Urbanchek, Master Of The ‘Keep-It-Movin’ Mantra

Jon Urbanchek is the recipient of the 2024 Carlile Cup. State of Swimming’s Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded posthumously after the Hungarian-born U.S. coach moved on in May last year. Here is an extract from the SOS tribute penned at the time of Jon’s passing

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

FORUM: A Review Of ‘Reform’; & My Day Out In London, 1971, When Gould Matched Fraser & Moras Passed Meyer

Is the reform process on track & how’s the Integrity Unit going? We start the trawl; Timeline - WR’s set this week throughout history - what I saw when I was 8 on a day out in London; & the AAU joins our list of candidates for the History of Swimming in 100 Objects and Organisations

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

On multi-class point score: Knox Pymble finished on top with 700 points, Runaway Bay second (459) and Mingara third (439).

As a snapshot to the week that attracted almost 30,000 fans through the gates, individual standout performance include:

• Sienna Toohey (Albury): 16 years - 4 gold, 2 national records: Stunning performances have the teenage sensation being mentioned as a potential bolter for the World Championships in Singapore later this year. The 16-year-old’s head-turning performance include a 1:07.04 in the girls 100m breaststroke that broke Dolphins’ great Leisel Jones 23-year-old national age record (1:07.31). She then backed this up with a national record in the 50m breaststroke (30.73). Also won 200m IM and 200m breast. 
• Henry Allan (Bendigo East): 16 years - 5 gold, 1 silver, 2 national records: The boy from Bendigo scooped the pool in his age group and smashed two national records with his lightening quick 53.73 in the boys' 16-years 100m backstroke and a world-class 24.88 in the 50 back. In his final hit out, Allan produced a Junior World Championships qualifying time in the 200m backstroke (1:59.53). He also won the 100 free, 100 fly and 50 fly.
• Koa Stotz (Somerset): 14 years - 3 gold, 2 silver: The Gold Coast schoolboy, coached by Chris Urquhart, surprised himself by firstly hitting the 2m mark in height and then using every centimetre of that frame to claim two national records in the 14 years, clocking 29.52 to win the 14 years 50m breaststroke – and then 1:04.21 in the 100m breast also in record time. Stotz punched the air to celebrate and then hit the stands to celebrate with his nan caught on camera. Also helped himself to gold in 50m free and two silvers in 200IM and 100m free.
• Hayley Mackinder (Griffith): 18 years - 3 gold: An impressive win in the girls' 100m breaststroke put Mackinder on World Junior Championships watch - her time of 1:07.7 meeting qualifying. Coached by dual Olympian Tommy Fraser-Holmes, Mackinder also won the 50m and 200m breaststroke.
• Tex Cross (Highlander): 18 years - 2 gold, 1 silver:  WA's Cross smashed out a negative split to win the 800m (8:01.02) free and closed his 400m race with a blistering 28.72 final lap, not only hitting a new PB of 3:50.92 but also a qualifying time for World Juniors.
• Macey Sheridan (Darwin) : 15 years - 3 gold, 1 bronze: One of 11 Northern Territory swimmers at National Age Championships, Sheridan was the most prolific. Deservedly named the NT’s Junior Sportsperson of the Year in 2024 and made history in 2025 by becoming the youngest recipient of the NT Sportsperson of the Year award. At this meet she's taking home gold in the 15 years’ 100m free, 100m back, 50m back and bronze in 50m free. Sheridan closed off her stacked program with a top five finish in the 200m backstroke.

 The final night of the meet also included:

• Luke Higgs finished his program with four golds and two silvers after his winning performance in the boys' 16-years 400m freestyle tonight. The Warringah athlete dominated his age group's middle to long-distance events, taking out the 1500m, 800m, 400m free and 400 IM national title. He also won silver in the 200 IM and 200 freestyle events.
• Rockhampton's Amelie Smith took the chocolates in the girls' 16-years 400m freestyle (4:15.75), marking her fourth gold of the meet. Chandler's Ava Gaske won silver in front of a home crowd (4:16.75). Iona's Maya Bearman (4:22.02) won bronze.
• Lukas Dunn: A magnificent meet for the Knox Pymble swimmer. The son of three-time Olympian Matt, the 15-year-old dominated his age group to claim a medal in each of his eight individual events. Tonight’s final delivered a bronze in the 50m backstroke adding to the Dunn family pool room: five gold (100m free, 100, fly, 100m back, 50 fly, 200 IM); and two silvers (50m back). Pedigree bloodline perfectly complimented with a green Corolla’s reliability – this Dunn is not dusted.
• A rising star in the freestyle and butterfly events, Mikayla Bird from Bond University scooped the pool with four golds, including her win in tonight's girls' 17-years 100m butterfly (59.73), and two silvers. On her 18th birthday (16 April) she qualified for World Juniors in the 200m fly with a cracking time of 2:11.80.
• Zoe Ammundsen: Coached by Shawn Melton at Nudgee, the form backstroker in her age group over the past two years claimed the 100m-200m double for the third consecutive year. After a day off, a rested Ammundsen, 17, put on the afterburners in the last of her four laps in the 200m backstroke to stop the clock under qualifying time at 2:12.26. Second-placed Isabel Sheldrick (Fenix) also ticked off a qualifier (2:13.12).

The Australian Junior World Championships team for Romania will be announced later this month. 

• Thanks to Swimming Australia's media team for a fine job, including the Six Pack files and the name checks for programs and coaches.

In OTHER NEWS:

Scott’s 1:56.44 In London 200IM Shows No Hunger Lost In Post-Paris, Three-Month Break

GB Champs: Scott is pre-selected for Singapore World Championships from July 27-August 3 but had he needed to qualify he would have done so: the cut, 1:57.18; Ollie Morgan and Eva Okaro at the sprint double; Shanahan and McGill through too

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Tunisia’s Tokyo Olympic Champion Ahmed Hafnaoui, Banned For Missing Three Anti-Doping Tests

The 2020ne 400m free Olympic champion is out for 21 months after falling foul of anti-doping rules on whereabouts at the time he withdrew from Paris 2024 with an undefined ‘illness’

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Also In The April Vortex:

• Sara Curtis Makes It Three Italian Sprint Free Records In 24 Hours
• Records For Daniel Wiffen & Danielle Hill As Irish Open Ends With 3 Irish Senior & 4 Junior Records Along With 12 Meet Marks
• Sienna Toohey's Shift From Junior To Senior Speed Tangible
• Swimming Australia's excellent SIX PACK Potted Insight Files
• When Sara Swam Faster Than Federica Ever Did ... Curtis Clocks 53.1 Italian 100 Free Mark

Guy Still Gunning For Gold: 10 Years After Global Glory, Relay King Takes Brit 400 Crown, At 29

The Name’s Guy, James Guy, Olympic 4x200 champion not once but an historic twice, and now 400m free British champion 10 years after his peak year of gold and silver at World titles; plus, Keanna Macinnes and Freya Colbert the first two cuts for Singapore Worlds this summer

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Wrap Of Meets: Meet Lukas Märtens Adds 7:39.10 German 800m Mark To 400WR In Stockholm

Olympic 400m champion Lukas Martens is on a roll in Stockholm: three days after a World record of 3:39.96 over eight lengths at Sweden’s Swim Cup, the German ace sneaked inside his own national standard in the 800m; plus, Ellie McCartney & Ellen Walshe in record form in Ireland

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

• Hayley Mackinder's Mission Assisted by coaches Thomas Fraser-Holmes and ... Mel Marshall (Peaty's Mentor)
• Nicolo Martinenghi 59.16 takes Italian 100 Crown, Ludovico Viberti's 59.04 In The Wrong Race
• Isabel Gose Goes 4:04 For 400 Victory In Stockholm
• John Shortt Takes Down Irish 200 Back Mark in 1:56; Dan Wiffen Goes 3:46 Championship record in 400 Free 
• Leading Lights Rise Up The Aerial At Aussie Age Titles, Olympic Summers On The Horizon
• Full House For Dan Wiffen's 7:41 At Irish Open
• Lukas Märtens & Florian Wellbrock Lead Another Winning Day For Germans In Stockholm
• Koa Stotz In Junior Record Form As Gen-Brisbane 2032 Comes Into View
• Hubert Kós Pips Kristof Milák in 100 'Fly As Hungarian Nationals Close
• Kyle Chalmers - All-time Fastest Aussie 'Fly Dasher In Textile
• Michael Houlie Takes 50 Breast Crown in Battle With Chris Smith
• David Popovici Pops 47.30 Then Bypasses Final With Back Pain
• Robert Badea Steps Into Limelight For Third Title
• John Shortt, Tom Fannon On The Plane To Singapore; Speedy Start For Pre-selected Ellen Walshe
• Gone At HK$180,000 - Siobhan Haughey's Tokyo Silver Suit & Cap Break Michael Phelps Record At Auction
• Kristof Rasovszky Pops Shiny Suit Standard For Hungarian 400 Free Crown
• Rebecca Meder takes down SA 200IM record for 4th time
• Greg Meehan hired as USA Swimming Team Director
• Popovici Pounces With 1:45 Flat In 200 Free
• David Popovici & Adrian Radulescu Honoured Before Sprinter Downs Romanian 50 Free Mark In 21.8
• Meet round-ups including updates on the following meets as and whenever we get to them
• Hubert Kós Cracks Hungarian 50 Back Mark, Twice, At Nationals
• Pieter Coetze Rattles Own SA Record For 52.71 Win In 100 Back
• German Swim Federation In DSV Deal With SwimBetter
• Ellen Walshe Heads To Irish Open With "A Clean Slate" & Loving Her Job
• The Cap Fits: Hector Pardoe Returns To Ellesmere To Inspire The Next Wave
• No Chad, No Tatjana At Nationals For First Time In Generations As South Africa Nationals Get Started
• Mollie O'Callaghan On Post-Paris Challenges & "Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable"
• Dan Wiffen's vlog On Recovery Strategy For Champs
• Recovery from mystery nerve pain and fatigue Puts Tess Schouten Out Of Singapore World Champs
• House vs. NCAA Settlement - What's All About?
• What are we to make of 'A Women’s Final Of Two Biological Men'?
• Dolphin Madi Wilson Weds Cricketer Matt Short
• Kyle Chalmers Makes A Splash Of The Dash With Career High 21.78 In Bergen
• Alice Williams Joins Swimming Australia Board
• Becca Mann Memoir Out This Week
• Kyle Chalmers The Toast Of Bergen With 47.2 Blast In 100 Free

Athlete Transition With A Twist From The ‘Annoyingly Gifted’ Cody Simpson & His New Gig

As Cody Simpson heads into Guys & Dolls rehearsals, talk turns to athlete career transition in a fine interview for The Age/SMH. Of partner Emma McKeon, he says: “I’m like, ‘You’re gonna have to suck at stuff for a bit. And if you’ve been the very best at something, you’re not used to that’.”

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

• Dutch Government Refuses To Reinstate Mandatory School Swimming
• Short & Thomas At The Distance Double As Urlando Goes 1:52 200 'Fly
• Ponti Pops 22.88 For Swiss 50 'Fly Crown
• Serious Doubts Over How Much Of £474m Covid Loans To Sport & Culture "Will Ever Be Repaid"
• Yes, it was an April's Fool:

World Aquatics Plan To Reintroduce Yards World Records in 2026

World Aquatics is set to bring back yards records 70 years since traditional English linear distances went metric-only & 58 years since all yards events measures were scrapped as swimming became exclusively metric

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

• Spain's Carlos Garach Takes Break From Pool To Pursue Military Career