Geelong swimmers find success at championships

LOCAL swimmers have emerged from the water victorious after claiming the number one spot in the Mattiolo Victorian Age Long Course Championships last month.

Members representing the Melbourne Swimming Club’s Geelong branch (MSC Geelong) joined their MSC Metro teammates in the pool for the five-day competition.

The whole-club performance saw MSC lead the scoring from the beginning to emerge as champions.

Held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, the event resulted in MSC Geelong swimmers taking home 15 medals.

James Logan, 18, starred across the board, winning 10 individual medals in the multiclass events for swimmers with disability.

“I’m fortunate to have the support of the club and coaches. Training is hard work but fun when you’re surrounded by a great team,” he said.

Logan set a new Australian S15 record in the 400 metre freestyle and was awarded Age Group Champion in the 15-18 yrs category, with his sights now set on the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo.

The success for the Geelong team didn’t end there, with the Victorian Open Water Championships held in Geelong on December 21.

Diving in at Eastern Beach, the team took home another 10 medals, with Liam Walker, Billie O’Bree and Archie Greco winning gold in their respective events.

The club was founded four years ago, with MSC led by an Olympic coach who oversees the four MSC branches in Victoria.

Mr Pope said the club set out in 2020 to be the premier swimming club in the state, and achieved the goal at the recent championships.

“Results as a club and individuals were testament to the swimmers’ application to their training.”