13th Beach IRB crew excels at Worlds

13TH Beach Surf Life Saving Club is celebrating the efforts of three of its own after they did the club proud at this year’s Life Saving

World Championships on the Gold Coast.

The Barwon Heads club’s Inflatable Rescue Boat team of Kieren Spanner, Tom Lenehan and Stephanie Dimitrio made it to the podium taking out a bronze medal in the Open Male IRB Surf Rescue event.

Dimitrio, who was the team’s simulated patient, said all three athletes were extremely proud of how they performed.

“I’ve never competed at Worlds before, I had a chance to a few years ago, but I was too young, but both of the boys competed at the last Worlds and this year was the first time we medalled,” Dimitrio said.

“I cannot describe to you how excited we were to place where we did. The amount of effort and training the boys and I put in was extraordinary.

“We had no expectations to make the final, just making it to that stage and then coming away with a medal was surreal, it has made us even hungrier for the next Worlds to try and get that gold.”

Dimitrio thanked the club for its support and facilitating their training during the months leading up to the World Championships.

Lenehan, Spanner and Dimitrio placed behind runners-up Kurrawa SLSC and champions South Maroubra SLSC in the final.Dimitrio said the IRB team rescue events could be likened to the 100m sprints in athletics, involving a high pressure atmosphere in a short amount of time.

“The club was in utter shock,” Dimitrio said.

“We owe our success to the club for supporting us, if it wasn’t for the coaches, committee, social or financially supporting us in our training, it would not have been possible.

“They put on a huge celebration for us which was nice, and we were supported well by the other local clubs that were in attendance at Worlds as well.”

The 13th Beach IRB team will continue training over the coming months ahead of the 2025 local IRB season starting in May next year.

The International Lifesaving Federation appointed Agadir in Morocco as the location of the 2026 Life Saving World Championships.