Time to dive into short-course champs

THE 2022 Victorian Country Short-Course Swimming Championships will be held at the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre this weekend.

Hosted by the Midlands District Amateur Swimming Association, 534 young athletes from across the state, 89 of those from the Midlands District, will represent nearly 40 rural and regional clubs in the pool over two days.

Ballarat Gold Swimming Club members Grace Cofield and Oliver McCormack are two of the local competitors.

Per week, 13-year-old Oliver has been attending six to seven training sessions in the pool, and four gym sessions, ahead of the championships

He has been competitively swimming for three years and has fun within Ballarat Gold’s training atmosphere.

“I also enjoy seeing myself progress through the hard work that I put in,” he said.

“This will be my fourth or fifth championship meet now, so I’m aiming to hit all my goal times, do Ballarat Gold proud, and hopefully next year I can compete at the age nationals.”

Ten-year-old Grace started competitive swimming in 2021, inspired by Australia’s Olympians, particularly Ariarne Titmus, and her favourite stroke is backstroke.

She will be one of the youngest Ballarat Gold athletes in the water at the short-course meet, which will be her first championships.

“I enjoy competing against myself for a PB, and swimming with my friends,” she said. “My goal is to do my best at the championships, and one day get to the nationals.”

MDASA member and the championships’ project sponsorship coordinator Marissa Cofield said organisers are grateful for the support of the Ballarat community, small businesses, and their volunteers.

“Without them, it wouldn’t be possible to put on a quality event,” she said.