OLYMPIC swimmer Jenna Strauch has claimed her second monthly win in the Bendigo Sports Star Awards, for the month of May.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old is in career-best form, posting her quickest time in the 200-metre breaststroke and claiming a silver medal at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest last week.<\/p>\n
She said she never imagined she\u2019d be the second best in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI honestly was going this year with the goal of making a final, top eight in the world, but to walk away as second best in the world this year is pretty surreal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really good position to be in, we\u2019re two years away from another Olympics\u2026 it gives me a lot of hope and something to work towards.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the world champs, Strauch was also a part of the Australian 100-metre medley relay team which finished 0.47 seconds behind the United States to also claim silver.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really aspire to be a part of the relay teams in Australia,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have huge success, and we have such a good group of athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n
In May this year, Strauch proved herself as one of the country\u2019s top swimmers, winning the 200-metre breaststroke in the Australian Swimming Championships.<\/p>\n
Strauch said she\u2019s grateful for all the support coming from her hometown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means so much to me,\u201d she said. \u201cHaving been a Bendigo girl growing up there\u2019s a special place in my heart for the town.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter last year\u2019s Olympics and seeing the outpour of love and support I got to then go away on the international stage and know I\u2019ve got the support of the whole community is something you can only imagine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful and appreciative, I\u2019m just really glad I can hopefully bring some joy to the community and give them something to follow and inspire to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strauch\u2019s hectic swimming calendar continues, leading up to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games on 28 July.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
OLYMPIC swimmer Jenna Strauch has claimed her second monthly win in the Bendigo Sports Star Awards, for the month of May. The 25-year-old is in career-best form, posting her quickest time in the 200-metre breaststroke and claiming a silver medal at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest last week. She said she never imagined […]<\/p>\n