Geelong swimmer takes final lap

ONE of the Geelong Swimming Club’s (GSC) most respected and well-known athletes is hanging up the goggles after more than two decades at Kardinia Park.

World record holder in disabled athlete disciplines and Geelong swimmer Phoebe Mitchell has concluded training at the GSC aquatic complex after 20 years of success at a range of levels.

“I’ve loved being part of the Geelong Swimming Club. I’ve always felt included,” Mitchell said.

“I’ve made life-long friends and memories.”

In 2008, Mitchell broke her first world record at the age of 17 at the Down syndrome (DSISO) International World Championships in Portugal.

She would then break another 74 Down syndrome world records during her career, 10 of which still stand today, 10 Masters world records, 16 Oceania world records and multiple Australian records.

“Breaststroke and backstroke were my favourites; but definitely not butterfly,” Mitchell jokingly added.

“I will miss so much about GSC.

“I’m looking forward to new adventures. Thank you to all my swimming friends.”

Phoebe has travelled the globe representing Australia.

She was appointed female Captain of the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation (DSISO) Australian team in 2012 and 2016 and was a member of the Australian swim team representing the nation at the 2019 Virtus Global Games, the largest sporting event for athletes with intellectual impairment.

This then translated to the 2022 Virtus Oceania Games where she won a whopping 18 gold medals.

A three-time female world champion, some of Mitchell’s fondest memories are closer to home in Geelong, such as her GSC vice-captaincy selection in 2010 and being part of the club’s winning team at the 2022 Country Championships for the first time in 22 years.

She is also the only female athlete with Down syndrome to swim the Pier to Pub and has completed the open-water event eight times.

She welcomed the honour of running the final leg of the Torquay Queen’s baton relay for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

While the field of inclusion has been arduously slow at times for Mitchell, she stayed true to her will to compete, being the first female swimmer to compete in the new S18 category at the 2022 Australian Swimming Championships, which was created in 2021.

“GSC are incredibly proud to have shared in Phoebe’s journey as an elite athlete and to have celebrated her achievements with her.” GSC president Glenn Benson said.

Among her list of accolades, Mitchell was also recognised with the Surf Coast Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award in 2017 and celebrated as the Female Athlete of the Year at the 2020 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards.

In 2022, GSC welcomed Mitchell as a life member of the club.