The Australian Open Water Championships return to Busselton for the second consecutive year, commencing on Wednesday, 24th January. Against the picturesque backdrop of the iconic Busselton Jetty, some of Australia's top ocean swimmers, including WA's very own Jack Wilson, are set to compete.
Jack Wilson, from North Coast Swim Club and a recent addition to the Dolphins Swim Team in 2023, will be just one of a large field of WA athletes, competing against open water swimmers from right across Australia.
The excitement, however, extends beyond the Championships, with the Festival of Busselton taking place in conjunction with the event from the 22nd to the 27th of January. The festivities kick off on Monday night with a free Outdoor Cinema screening of the film 'Oddball.' Thursday brings the Busselton Twilight Picnic, featuring live music by Scott Pearce and Stewie Music, with the beats of Fusion Groove continuing into the evening. There’ll be food vans and market stalls offering something for the whole family.
A highlight of the festival is the Community Open Water Swim, a part of Swimming WA's Open Water Swimming Series. Open to the public on Friday, 26th January, participants can choose from a variety of distances suitable for both beginners and experienced swimmers. It’s a great chance to swim the same course that the Australian Championship hopefuls swim and be part of this unique Ocean Swim Festival.
As the Festival draws to a close, the final day marks the Festival of Busselton's 60th Anniversary. A gala night at Origins Markets, starting at 6:30pm, promises live music, prizes, historic displays, and speeches, providing a fitting conclusion to a week of open water swimming.
For more information on the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships and Ocean Swim Festival, click here.
