Archie Kreutzberger and Lillie McPherson - Photo credit: Rebecca Ohlwein // Swimming Australia
Seventeen of New South Wales’ most promising young swimmers have been selected to take part in Swimming Australia’s Next Wave Invitational Competition Camp, to be held in Canberra from 6–12 July 2025.
The camp marks the return of a national development strategy that once launched the careers of our best Australian Dolphins and it forms a key step in Swimming Australia’s green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032, focusing on the next generation of high-performing junior athletes.
Athletes were selected based on performances at the recent Australian Age Championships, with the camp providing an opportunity for those just below national junior team level to gain invaluable racing and team experience in a high-performance setting at the Australian Institute of Sport.
The NSW athletes named in the 64-strong national squad are:
- Alexandra Sharp (Wenona, coached by Michael Creighton)
- Archie Kreutzberger (North Albury SC, Mitch Brown)
- Dylan Zhou, Ethan Haegebaert, Jack Mitchell, Lukas Dunn (Knox Pymble SC, Steve Goodier)
- Eva Potts (Charlestown, Sander Ganzevles)
- Hannah Huisman, Luke Higgs (Warringah, Cameron Reynolds & Angelo Basalo)
- Harrison Tancred, Isobel Mulcahy, Luke Lee (Carlile, Michaela Pattison)
- Isabelle Rae (Albury, Wayne Gould)
- Lillie McPherson, Phoenix Woods (Manly, Justin Rothwell)
- Maximus Smyth (Corrimal SC, Tracey Walters)
- Tilly Fikkers (West Illawarra, Pat Stellino)
Joining them in a key leadership position is Swimming NSW Coaching Director Jon Shaw, who has been appointed by Swimming Australia as one of two Head Team Managers for the event.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be appointed as one of the Head Team Managers for the inaugural Swimming Australia Next Wave Invitational Competition Camp,” said Shaw. “This is a fantastic initiative that brings together some of the country’s most promising young swimmers and leading coaches in a high-performance environment. I’m looking forward to supporting our athletes as they take this exciting next step in their development and contributing to what promises to be a rewarding and inspiring week for everyone involved.”
Athletes will compete as members of two mixed teams, the Kangaroos and the Emus, in an intensive week of racing designed to simulate the pressures and expectations of international competition. Daily racing, feedback, and performance reviews will give swimmers a taste of life in an Australian team environment.
Former National Head Coach Leigh Nugent, now National Team Support Coach, described the program as “something that’s been missing for the past 10 years” and a key step in exposing both athletes and coaches to national standards and expectations.
Swimming NSW congratulates all selected athletes, coaches and Jon Shaw on this significant achievement and looks forward to their continued development on the pathway to future national team selection.
