Seven Western Australian athletes took to the shores of the Oz Ski Resort at Coolum for the 2023 Queensland Open Water Swimming Championships on Saturday, 14th October.
Five of North Coast Swim Club's senior athletes competed at the championships with their eyes firmly on a place on the 2024 Paris Olympic team, with the championships doubling as a qualifying event for the 2024 World Championships in February which will form the final chance for athletes to be selected onto the Olympic team.
Two of Westside Christ Church's up and coming distance athletes represented the WA Performance Pathway Program at the event, led by Lead Coach Jon Harrison. The event provided the athletes with invaluable experiences coping with the demands of travel, joint training opportunities with the Swimming NSW Open Water team and a chance to compete with an eye on the Junior World Championships team selected in January at Australian Open Water Nationals.
Not only were athletes up against the best athletes in the nation, but also from around the globe, from Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.
First off, it was the women's open 10km event and Bianca Monaco (Westside Christ Church, c: Jon Harrison) was the rising star, with her sensational gold medal win in the 16-year-olds category and seventh overall finish. Monaco finished almost 90 seconds ahead of her nearest age group competitor, cementing herself as one to watch at Australian Open Water Nationals in January. Rosie Wilson (11th) and Chloe Truscott (12th) weren't far behind, indicating the strength of the field assembled in Coolum.
In the men's open 10km, Kyle Lee (North Coast, c: Ian Mills) battled adversity throughout the race and locked down fourth position through a trademark strong touch at the finish line. His performance puts him right in the mix for selection on the 2024 World Championships Team. Close behind him were Jack Wilson (6th) and Robbie Bonsall (7th), finishing in the final pack alongside Lee.
In the 17-year-old category, Kristian Seidl (Westside Christ Church) turned heads by snatching a tight third place (12th overall), merely 0.3 seconds away from the silver medal position. Seidl registered an incredible 18-minute personal best over the 10km race and will look to build on his breakout performance at Australian Open Water Nationals in January.
It's truly remarkable to witness the dedication of coaches Ian Mills (North Coast) and Jon Harrison (Westside Christ Church), who embark on extraordinary journeys alongside their teams. These journeys serve as invaluable life lessons for the athletes, and it’s no doubt that each athlete returns home with insights that will continue to shape their futures in the world of Open Water Swimming.
