Geelong reigns supreme at short course champs

THE Geelong Swimming Club (GSC) has emerged victorious at the 2023 Victorian Short Course Country Championships following a two-day contest in Wangaratta.

The championships, hosted by the Ovens Murray District on August 12-13, involved over 35 clubs vying for podium finishes.

Geelong Swimming Club’s 75-strong swimming team faced strong competition over the weekend, succeeding in bringing home the Robert Carmichael Memorial Trophy as the highest scoring club of the meet.

The accolade caps off the club’s success at the Country Championships in January earlier this year.

Club captains Nicole Briscoe and Cam Ricchini each broke the 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley records.

The Under 13 mixed medley relay team set the pool alight with their record-breaking swim adding to the excitement.

“Country Champs is one of the first championship meets a swimmer can qualify for so we all come together and cheer our team,” head coach Aaron Tenabel said.

“The racing is tough and fast which sets swimmers up for state and national championships in the coming weeks.

“We are grateful to the City of Greater Geelong; access to facilities all year round enables our athletes to develop and our club to remain one of the most competitive.”

Geelong Swimming Club’s inaugural able-bodied/para relays headlined the second day of the meet.

The club fielded three teams in the event, claiming a silver medal, which put a major highlight on top of an already successful event.