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Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Shortly after the School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health’s expansion of its swimming coaching programs (Uniswim), 22 participants recently competed in Adelaide at the 2016 Georgina Hope Australian Age Championships as representatives of the newly formed UWA-West Coast Swimming Club.

The team swam their way into 8th position in the country from a pool of more than 1700 competitors from 296 clubs. Ten of the athletes were first-timers at Nationals. Spearheading the team’s success was SSEH Head Coach, Michael Shaw.

West Australians might have anticipated this stellar performance after seeing UWA-West Coast take out the coveted 2016 Club Premiership title for Western Australia just 4 weeks ago at HBF Stadium.  But with a number of the club’s older, more accomplished athletes electing to compete at the Open Championships / Olympic trials event in Adelaide this week instead, a strong performance by UWA - West Coast at the “Age” event (12-18 years) was by no means a foregone conclusion.

Commitment, dedication and relentless hours of training by the athletes got them to this point. On arrival in Adelaide their preparation was unleashed; every single athlete performed, all achieving a personal best across the six full days of competition; achieving a phenomenal 94% PB rate from the 64 individual swims.  The team brought home 11 medals (three gold, three silver and three bronze for individual events and two bronze medals for relays), setting new WA state records along the way.  The team came home with the pride that comes with having been the first ever team to compete at a national following Uniswim’s expansion, defining the new coaching program as a significant force in Australian swimming.

The young team will take a rest while they watch their older team mates take the plunge at the Open Championships/Olympic trials.  The action can be viewed on Channel 7 from 6.30pm on Thursday 7th April.

Then it will be back to training in the pursuit of their goals and dreams to make it to Nationals again next year as a team that is bigger, stronger, faster. Most are itching to get back into the pool already; their overwhelming desire to train being fueled by their simple love for swimming, the friendships they form and fun they have along the way.  The team that swims together, plays together and stays together.

SSEH’s Uniswim program offers year round programs for swimmers of all levels from learn to swim to elite competition level through a comprehensive squad structure made up of junior, recreational, fitness and competitive pathways. The UWA-West Coast Swimming Club also offers a number of social and competitive opportunities year round. Anyone interested in joining Uniswim or the club, contact Uniswim on 6488 2277 or [email protected] . Check out the club at www.uwawestcoast.org and contact [email protected] .

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