Eight Mighty Blues have put up sensational performances as part of the pod of Junior Dolphins representing Australia at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Honolulu.
The competition roster in Hawaii was a tough one, with Australia’s staunchest Pacific nation competitors – USA, Japan and Canada – all having sent representatives. Warning shots have been fired at Mark Takai Veterans Memorial Aquatic Centre. The biggest international contenders have revealed their hands ahead of 2024 Olympic Trials – giving swimming communities a glance at their fiercest up and coming talent.
The elite competition experience gained from attending this event will be key for many NSW athletes and coaches tracking towards Paris 2024 and LA 2028.
The Junior Dolphins were lead by a team of first class coaches including Trinity Grammar's Ben Tuxford, City of Sydney's Rebecca Wheatley, and Carlile's Michaela Pattinson.
NSW athletes Bella Grant (Trinity Grammar), Isabella Johnson (SOPAC), Olivia Wunsch (Carlile), Haig Buckingham (SOPAC), Marcus Da Silva (City of Sydney), Alistair Gorgijiovski (Wests Illawarra Aquatic), Daniel McLoughlin (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) and Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga) have all made significant contributions to the Australian Team and to their own programs.
Olivia Wunsch, Jamie Mooney and Isabella Johnson will all bring individual bronze medals back to Australian soil. Mooney took out the third spot on the podium in the Men’s 100m Freestyle (50.19), while Wunsch claimed the bronze in the corresponding Women’s event in a quick 54.47, just 0.03 shy of the Junior Pan Pacs Record.
SOPAC’s Isabella Johnson came through in her pet event, the Women’s 100m Breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:09.36 to claim bronze.
One of the most exciting developments out of Hawaii has been the success of the Australian Team in the relay events – all bolstered by NSW swimmers. The emergence of NSW athletes as key players in Australian relay teams at the age group level is unsurprising after the blue dominance we witnessed during the 2022 State Relay events at Australian Age Championships in April.
| Placing | Relay | Competitors | Time |
| GOLD | Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay |
Flynn Southam Anders McAlpine Joshua Staples Marcus Da Silva |
7:13.07 (under JPP Record) |
| SILVER | Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay |
Jaclyn Barclay Haig Buckingham Jesse Coleman Hannah Casey |
3:50.51 |
| SILVER | Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay |
Jamie Perkins Milla Jansen Amelia Weber Olivia Wunsch |
7:55.85 (under JPP Record) |
| SILVER | Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay |
Olivia Wunsch Hannah Casey Jamie Perkins Milla Jansen |
3:39.04 |
| SILVER | Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay |
Flynn Southam Marcus Da Silva Anders McAlpine Jamie Mooney |
3:18.06 |
| SILVER | Men's 4x100m Medley Relay |
Fergus McLachlan Haig Buckingham Jesse Coleman Flynn Southam |
3:36.96 |
| BRONZE | Women's 4x100m Medley Relay |
Iona Anderson Isabella Johnson Bella Grant Milla Jansen |
4:05.84 |
More Finals results can be found below. You can catch up on all of our Mighty Blues races via Live Results.
2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships Finals Results
- Wednesday 24 August Finals
- Thursday 25 August Finals
- Friday 26 August Finals
- Saturday 27 August Finals
Women’s 200m Butterfly - A Final
Bella Grant – 5th - 2:10.98
Women’s 200m Freestyle - B Final
Olivia Wunsch – 1:59.56
Men’s 200m Free - B Final
Marcus Da Silva – 1:50.20
Men’s 100m Breaststroke A Final
Haig Buckingham – 4th – 1:01.85
Alistair Gorgijovski – 7th - 1:04.18
Men’s 100m Freestyle - B Final
Marcus Da Silva – 50.47
Women’s 100m Butterfly - A Final
Bella Grant – 7th - 1:00.47
Women’s 200m Breast - A Final
Isabella Johnson – 8th – 2:42.23
Men’s 200m Breaststroke - A Final
Alistair Gorgijovski - 8th – 2:18.80
Women’s 50m Freestyle - B Final
Olivia Wunsch – 25.13
Men’s 50m Freestyle - B Final
Marcus Da Silva – 23.75
