The picturesque shores of Busselton await the arrival of two of Western Australia’s premier open water swimmers, siblings Jack and Rosie Wilson from North Coast Swim Club, as they gear up for the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships. The Wilson duo is set to compete in the 5km and 10km events, also joining forces with their North Coast teammates in the 4x1.5km relay event.
Jack Wilson, recently selected for the Australian Dolphins team, started his swimming journey in the pool, favouring the longer 800m and 1500m distances. Rosie started out in surf lifesaving. Both Jack and Rosie were enticed by the challenges and unpredictability of open water swimming.
Jack recalls the moment he fell in love with open water swimming, saying, “I gave open water a crack one year since it was in Perth, and since then, I have been in love with the sport.” Rosie's path followed through squad swimming and pool competitions before a move to North Coast ignited a passion for open water racing.
As the Championships draw near, Jack, fresh off an impressive season, gears up for another challenge. Rosie, resilient despite facing obstacles in her preparation, trusts the hard work she’s done under the guidance of her coach Ian Mills “Milzy” and is excited to hit the water.
Reflecting on their training highlights, Jack emphasises the importance of strategic racing, while Rosie echoes his thoughts, acknowledging that the biggest challenge lies in the demanding training and preparation, crediting her supportive teammates at North Coast for keeping her motivated.
Jack’s highlight achievement is his epic 13th place finish as an Australian Dolphin in the Men's 5km event at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. Rosie's defining moment was the challenge of overcoming the physical and mental obstacles in completing her first solo Rottnest Channel Swim in 2022.
Approaching his 9th Australian Open Water Championships, Jack's goal is clear, “Get after it! Gain more racing experience.” On the other hand, Rosie, focused on the journey, shares, “I don’t have any specific goals in mind… I just want to go out there, enjoy the process, and give it everything I’ve got on the day.”
Both Jack and Rosie express their excitement at having the Championships back in WA for the second consecutive year. “It means a lot to have the championships in our backyard. Everyone travelling over gets to see how nice WA is!” Jack exclaims while Rosie adds, “I love having the Championships in WA, especially in Busselton again. I think it is such a beautiful location, and conditions never fail to be amazing!”
For aspiring open water swimmers, Jack advises patience and dedication, stating, “Improvement doesn't happen overnight. Trust and dedicate yourself to the process, and you will get to where you want to be.” Rosie encourages enjoying every opportunity, connecting with teammates, and finding motivation even on challenging days.
As the Wilsons gear up for Busselton, the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships bring some of Australia’s best open water swimming champions to the West.
