Four GSC athletes attend Virtus Games

FOUR swimmers from Geelong Swimming Club are celebrating one of their biggest achievements to date, after being selected to the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games.

GSC’s Ryan McGrane, Phoebe Mitchell, Bradley Doolan and Madeline Fox were selected as part of a 41-athlete team to compete at the Games, which began in Brisbane on Sunday and finished today (Friday, November 11).

The 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games are an international multisport event for elite athletes with intellectual impairment delivered by Sports Inclusion Australia.

GSC coach Sadat-Jon Hussain was selected as part of the Australian coaching team, and said he was very proud of the four athletes selected from Geelong.

Having been awarded Disability Coach of the Year at the 2020 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards and being appointed Coach of the Australian Down Syndrome team in 2014, 2016 and 2018, Hussain has worked with swimmers of all abilities for over 10 years.

“Inclusion is a corner stone of our club,” he said.

“To coach this national team and for four of our athletes to qualify is a highlight of my career.”

Club captain Bradley Doolan along with Down Syndrome world record holder Phoebe Mitchell and Australian Special Olympics gold medallist Madeline Fox have represented Australian on previous occasions.

Ryan McGrane joined the team following his performance at the Australian Special Olympics in Hobart where he claimed gold in 200m breaststroke and bronze in 100m breaststroke.

The GSC squad received the backing of the GSC Foundation, a charitable organisation founded by the club to support swimmers with disability to overcome barriers to participation.

“The Foundation enables us to assist athletes to achieve their goals; we thank JP Flynn Builders for partnering with the Foundation.” GSC president Glenn Benson said.

“The whole club was behind our swimmers, and we couldn’t wait to see them race in the green and gold.”

Athletes from 25 nations competed in swimming, cycling, badminton, basketball, judo, rowing, sailing, taekwondo, and triathlon.