The 2023 Australian Age Championships kick off on the Gold Coast today. The largest annual event on the Swimming Australia calendar will take place at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, 7-15 April 2023, with the first session of heats starting at 9 am.
Watch all the action live on 9Now or follow the live results.
Here are some of the Mighty Blues expected to make the biggest splash on the national stage according to our resident expert, Jon Shaw. Certainly, there is no shortage of talent and plenty of promising athletes to get behind!
13YRS GIRLS
BRIDGET BASS (SLC AQUADOT): Coached by Alex Sheil, Bridget is looking to perform well in the 200 & 400 Free.
ABBIE DONELAN (WAGGA WAGGA): Another promising athlete from the strong Wagga Wagga team and is well placed in the Back & IM events.
JASLYN PLUMMER (WARRINGAH): Jaslyn is Coached by Cam Gledhill and will go well in the Free & Fly sprint events.
HEIDI SHUMACK (SOPAC): Heidi is entered into seven (7) events. Coached by Ryan Frost, she is well placed in all of her events!
14YRS BOYS
WILLIAM BROWNLIE (MLC MARLINS): Coached by Colman Wong, Brownlie has swum well throughout the summer season and is well-placed in several events, such as the 200m IM and 200m Backstroke.
LACHLAN DAVIES (WARRINGAH): Lachlan is one of the standouts in this age group. He is coached by Cameron Gledhill at Warringah and has impressed throughout the long course season…expect a bold showing!
LUKE HIGGS (WARRINGAH): Another standout performer from the strong Warringah club. Higgs has a fabulous mindset and loves competing against the best! Looking forward to watching him in the distance Free and IM events.
NOAH MAGGS (MANLY): Hails from the strong Manly club and is coached by Justin Rothwell. Looking forward to seeing Noah perform in the distance Free events.
STERLING TUXFORD (TRINITY GRAMMAR): Sterling is primed to perform by coaches Calum Timms & Ben Tuxford! He is very well placed in the Butterfly events.
DYLAN ZHOU (KNOX PYMBLE): Dylan has performed well in events ranging from 50 through to the 400 free and is entered into eight (8) events at these Championships. I know coach Steve Goodier is happy with his prep.
14YRS GIRLS
LILLIE MCPHERSON (MANLY): coached by Justin Rothwell, Lillie is a pocket rocket! Only knows one way to swim…fast! Is well placed in all her events! Looking forward to seeing her take on the best!
ISABELLE RAE (ALBURY): The Wayne Gould-coached Albury athlete is swimming well in all the breaststroke events. She has had a great LC season and continues to improve.
SIENNA TOOHEY (ALBURY): Another Wayne Gould-coached swimmer who continues to improve in the breaststroke events.
15YRS BOYS
DANIEL CARTER (THE HILLS): Coached by Josh Stapley, Daniel had a great OW season winning the 7.5km & 5km at the Australian OW Champs. Looking forward to the 400m Free!
GRAYSON DOIG (TRINITY GRAMMAR): Grayson has continued to improve since State Age and is ready to go. Coached by Ben Tuxford, he is primed to mix it with the best in the IM events!
NICHOLAS MACHER (REVESBY WORKERS): Nicholas is coached by Alex Clarke and is targeting the distance events. He drew a lot of confidence from his bold showing at the Aust Age OW Champs!
CASH MILNER (KPD): The Debby Tattoli-coached sprinter has performed well over the summer LC season. He is from the strong Kincumber stable who will have a red-hot go at the Fly & Backstroke events…
LACHLAN THOMPSON (ORANGE): Coached by Jason Lewis…I'm looking forward to a bold showing in the 200m fly!
15YRS GIRLS
RAFAELA KOPELLOU (SOPAC): Rafa is coached by Matt Brown at the strong SOPAC club. Looking forward to seeing her in the Fly & IM events.
AVA ROLLASON (CRUIZ): Coached by Olympic Coach Shannon Rollason, Ava is targeting the breaststroke events and is sure to put in a strong performance.
16YRS BOYS
MARCUS DA SILVA (CRANBROOK): Coached by Bec Wheatley and loves to compete. He made the Australian Junior team for the Junior Pan Pacs last year and is ready to perform well in his favourite events…the 50, 100 & 200 Free.
JAMES GAUCI (SOPAC): James is always there at the finish. Coached by Matt Brown at the SOPAC Club, he performs well in both the Fly & free events and will give it his all!
SAMUEL HIGGS (WARRINGAH): Sam is another multi-talented swimmer from the Warringah club. I know coach Cam Gledhill has him ready for the IM events.
HAYDEN HOANG (SOPAC): Hayden is coached by Matt Brown, is ready to perform and has worked very hard during his preparation. Look out for him in the backstroke events.
OSCAR KREUTZBERGER (NORTH ALBURY): Coached by Mitchell Brown down on the border, Oscar really made inroads at the NSW State Age Championships and has plenty of improvement to come.
BAILEY SCREEN (WARRINGAH): Bailey is looking to perform at his best in the Breaststroke events. Well ranked in all three!
16YRS GIRLS
JESSICA COLE (WESTS ILLAWARRA): Jess is really making some inroads in the Fly events having recently turned her eye towards the 200. Under coach Pat Stellino, she is well place in both the Fly & Free events.
OLIVIA WUNSCH (CARLILE): Coached by Michaela Pattinson, Olivia is a standout athlete and is sure to go well. She is entered into seven (7) events.
17YRS BOYS
ALEXANDER FOREMAN (KPD): Alex is coached by Debby Tattoli and is swimming exceptionaly well in his favourite backstroke events.
JOSHUA KERR (MANLY): Josh has recently returned from an illness that kept him out of the water for a long period of time. He continues to improve. The Justin Rothwell coached swimmer swam well at the NSW State Open and I'm expecting him to draw confidence from that showing…loves his IM!
KAI LILIENTHAL (KNOX PYMBLE): The Nic Dobson-coached swimmer will be targeting the sprint events…always performs at his best!
CHRISTIAN TOIA (SOPAC): Swimming for the SOPAC club, Christian is looking to perform well in all the breaststroke events.
17YRS GIRLS
JAIMIE DE LUTIIS (WESTS ILLAWARRA): Jaimie is another standout in this age group and is sure to go well. Coach Pat Stellino has her taking on other events and I'm looking at her progression in the IM as well as her Free events.
BELLA GRANT (TRINITY GRAMMAR): Bella is a multi-event athlete. Coach Ben Tuxford has her primed to perform not only in the Fly events but also the Back and Free!
AVA JANKOVIC (VALLEY AQUATIC): Coached by Sam Frame, Ava will be strong in both the Fly & IM events.
ISABELLA JOHNSON (CRUIZ): Isabella has moved to the AIS and is now under coach Shannon Rollason. She is sure to be in the finish of all the breaststroke events!
BELLA ZHANG (KNOX PYMBLE): Bella is coached by Leanne Speechley and is competing in multiple events. She is looking for a strong showing in the Breaststroke & IM events.
18YRS BOYS
TANE BIDOIS (KNOX PYMBLE): Loves the sprint events…Coach Nic Dobson has him well placed after a shortened prep due to his HSC commitments.
HAIG BUCKINGHAM (SOPAC): Coached by Adam Kable and is looking to capture the breaststroke events.
CALEB DRYER (TRINITY GRAMMAR): Well placed to perform well in both the 200 Fly and 400 Free. Coached by Ben Tuxford and is ready!
ALISTAIR GORGIJOVSKI (WESTS ILLAWARRA): A breaststroke specialist, the Pat Stellino-coached athlete would be looking for a strong showing.
JAMIE MOONEY (WAGGA WAGGA): Coached by Gennadiy Labara, Jamie will be looking to repeat his performances from last year when he made the JPP team. Looking forward to watching him in the 100 Free!
