Kyle Lee And Moesha Johnson Reap Golds To Kick Off Australian Open Water Championships

2026 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WATER CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, January 22nd – Sunday, January 25th
• Koombana Bay, Western Australia
• OW
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• Meet Central
• Live Results

The 2026 Australian Open Water Championships got underway today, Thursday, January 22nd with titles, bragging rights, cash and more on the line over the course of the four-day competition.

More than 400 athletes, including a dozen internationals, are slated to compete with domestic racers. Australia’s top senior contenders are competing for funding ahead of qualification races in Spain and Italy for the Pan Pacific Championships to be held in California in August. Junior swimmers are also competing for selection for the Junior World Championships in Argentina.

A $50,000 prize purse was on offer for the Top 8 finishers of the men’s and women’s 10km that featured $8000 for the first, $6000 for second and $1500 for third descending down in value to 8^th place.

North Coast swimmer Kyle Lee raced his way to the top of the men’s 10k podium for the second consecutive year, earning $8,000 AUD (~$5400 USD) in the process.

Lee out-touched Thomas Raymond who settled for silver while pool swimming Olympian Sam Short bagged the bronze.

“It feels just as special knowing that there was such a quality field coming over. We had the usual names like Tom Raymond and Bailey Armstrong and someone like Sam Short to join the ranks makes the race very exciting,” Lee said post-race

“It was extremely close to that finish, there was about four or five of us boys that were all close and not know who was going to get it I guess keeps it really exciting and I was able to just get the touch on Tom (Raymond) which I’m pretty happy with.” (Swimming Australia)

For his part, Short noted, “It was good fun but it was very hard probably more mentally than physically to be honest.

“Those guys are so experienced and I could tell they were using their experience against me throughout the whole race so I was kind of trying to stay with them but I was right there in the end.

“I’ve got the 5km and the 3km (knockout sprint) still to come, so I think shorter distances may be a bit better for me.”

When asked why he decided to race in the Open Water Nationals, Short said, “It’s probably the fittest I’ve ever been in January … it’s really good training, a lot of kilometres – 18 kilometres of racing across four days – so I think it’s going to set me up well … and I’d rather do a 10km race than 10km in the pool for training.

“I’d love to be part of the 4x1500m or the 3km knockout at a world championship if it’s available and fits into my timeline. I’ve got to prove myself at nationals to be able to throw my hat in the right to be available for that. Fernado (Possenti, Australian Open Water Head Coach) knows what he’s doing, he’s coached some legends before.”

Olympic open water medalist Moesha Johnson was the winner on the women’s 10k side, also earning her second consecutive victory in the event.

She held off Carlile’s Tayla Martin and visiting Japanese swimmer Sachika Kajimoto who wrangled up the next two slots.

Johnson conveyed after the race, “The water temp was absolutely beautiful … the wind was a little bit choppy but it died during the middle of the race and we had some cloud cover, which is nice for the glare. Overall, just a really nice location.

“Tactic for this race was (just) … swim. And that’s just what I did. I had my own line at the start and just kind of focused on keeping an even rhythm, building through the race and practicing a few things to me, personally, for the season ahead.

“A few things enticed me to come back. We’ve got a great initiative with some prize money, it’s a great season opener for me to start and set myself up for the World Cups and Pan Pacs, ultimately. It’s a new race location and I love exploring my own country, I was really excited to come race somewhere new.

“I brought my coach (Bernd Berkhahn) out (to Australia) which is something I haven’t done. I’ve done a lot of individual racing without him, so I thought this was a great opportunity in January to have him come and assess jet lag and a few things, especially in the preparation for LA.”

RESULTS: Day 1

Women’s 10km

1.Moesha Johnson, 1:54:59.30 (Miami); 2.Tayla Martin, 1:55:21.20 (Carlile); 3.Sachika Kajimoto, 1:59:56.80 (V); 3.Tiana Kritzinger, 2:00:02.20 (Rackley)

Girls 18 years 10km

1.Eleanor Flowers, 2:01:52.40 (North Coast); 2.Rylee Smith, 2:01:52.50 (Sunshine Coast); 3.Amelie Smith, 2:05:32.00 (Rocky City)

Girls 19 years 10km

1.Bianca Monaco, 2:01:52.20 (North Coast); 2.Macy Beuzeville, 2:01:52.60 (St Peters Western); 3.Sophie Jansen, 2:06:08.30 (Noosa)

Men’s 10km

1.Kyle Lee, 1:51:41.50 (North Coast); 2.Thomas Raymond, 1:51:41.60 (Kawana Waters); 3.Samuel Short, 1:51:43.70 (Rackley)

Boys 18 years 10km

1.Lachlan Evans, 1:58:00.80 (St Peters Western); 2.Aidan Mills, 2:01:38.20 (North Coast); 3.Cooper Reynolds, 2:03:31.40 (Kawana Waters)

Boys 19 years 10km

1.Daniel Carter, 1:54:27.30 (The Hills); 2.Thomas Dreverman, 1:58:06.30 (Westside Christ Church); 3.Samuel Zollner, 2:02:29.00 (Westside Christ Church)

Boys 16 years 7.5km
1. William Thorpe, 1:30:26.70 (St Peters Western); 2. Mackenzie Crocker, 1:30.26.80 (A B Patterson); 3. Jordan Tucker 1:32:08.80 (Marion); 4. Thomas Valassis, 1:32:22.70 (Revesby Workers)

Girls 16 years 7.5km 
1. Olivia Galea, 1:34:25.30 (Chandler); 2. Lara Green, 1:40:31.00 (North Coast); 3. Saffron Favios, 1:40:41.40 (Albany Creek); 4. Lua Wilson, 1:42:20.90 (Westside Christ Church)

Boys 17 years 7.5km
1. Riley Meares, 1:28:25.90 (St Peters Western); 2.Ashton Rodgers, 1:33:44.10 (Rocky City); 3. Bodi Bone 1:33:48.10 (Gosford Stingrays); 4. Flynn Convey 1:34.00.90 (North Coast)

Girls 17 years 7.5km
1. Isobel Mulcahy, 1:34:28.50 (Carlile); 2. Allegra Anderson, 1:37:10.90 (Griffith University); 3. Piper Cameron, 1:38:34.20 (Nunawading); 4. Denise Grabe, 1:40:22.80 (St Peters Western)