Courtesy: Swimming Australia
HE almost took down one of the biggest names in Australian swimming this time last year and Sommerville’s Josh Conias is odds on to dominate again at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre this Easter.
Conias missed out by just 0.02 on claiming Kyle Chalmers’ national age record in the 16 years 50m freestyle with a time of 22.35 and is one of the athletes to watch at this week’s Australian Age Championships at Brisbane Aquatic Centre this Easter school holidays.
The 17-year-old is apprentice to The Professor Cam McEvoy, with both training under Tim Lane, and Conias will join aspiring LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympians and Paralympians from April 10-18.
Almost 2500 athletes, including more than 50 international visitors, will contest the championships which have traditionally been the breeding ground of the likes of Olympic gold medallists and world champions Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown and Elijah Winnington.
At the conclusion of this meet, a Junior Dolphins team will be selected for the 2025 World Junior Championships in Romania.
Junior Dolphins Sienna Toohey (15), Hayley Mackinder (17) and emerging stars like Henry Allan (16) – who set two Australian age records at the NSW Open Championships in March – are other names to look out for alongside Paralympian Callum Simpson (17) and Australia’s youngest swimmer to compete at La Defense Arena, Holly Warn (16).
For Simpson and Warn, they are returning to the pool where they first punched their tickets to the Paris Paralympic Games.
“As the biggest event on Swimming Australia’s calendar, the Australian Age Championships are the greatest opportunity to see the nation’s next generation perform,” said Swimming Australia’s National Youth Coach Simon Cusack.
“From Macey Sheridan (15) who recently made history as the youngest winner of the Northern Territory’s Sportsperson of the Year to Josh (Conias) who trains alongside Olympic great Cam McEvoy here in Brisbane, there is immense talent brewing in the Australian age swimming pool.
“Plus, with the likes of budding breaststroke star Lily Koch (16) and middle-distance teen swimmer Lincoln Wearing (16), who broke Grant Hackett’s 1996 1500m Queensland state record, competing – the depth of talent we have climbing through the ranks is exciting.”
Swimming is one of the few sports to feature both para and able-bodied athletes at the same national championships and this year marks a record amount of athlete entries.
General Manager of Paralympic Program Anna Johnson said: “We are so proud to be one of the few national sport organisations that deliver national competitions where our para and able-bodied swimmers compete side by side.”
“The power of para sport is that it provides the unique opportunity to unite communities, inspire the next generation and raise awareness that helps break down barriers to inclusion.
“By creating accessible events, like the Australian Age and Open Championships, that welcome diversity and showcase excellence, we hope to inspire Australia through swimming.”
The Australian Age and Open Championships are proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane City Council through Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
The 2025 Australian Age Championships will be available to watch live and free on 9Now. Heats start from 9am AEST; finals start from 6pm AEST.
Event tickets are available from Ticketek.
Got it! 8:03.73 from Wearing.
Three age records in one session is pretty good aye
Immense. Boys 15 were incredible last year and look to have got even better..
This gonna be close to Mack’s time.
Brave swim from Tex Cross in 400. Went out in 1:52, came back in a 1:58.
A bit more stamina and SwimSwam’s own, Sienna Toohey, will go into the 1:06’s and then the 1:05’s. So quick on top of the water.
How about that swim from Shumack in the 200 IM! Only half a second off Kaylee’s age record. 2:14.43
What was her PB before today?
2:18.00
Wow – Shumack rattles Kaylee’s 200IM record in 15 girls. Just missed it in 2:14.43.
Montana gets the age record in 100 Breast – 1:02.70. Great race with Grigor.
Grigor also got the record – 1:03.13
Huge PB for Dunn. His 200 IM should be one to watch (and all his other events)
Most of the 15 boys races look must watch. Grigor’s IM and Butterfly especially.
Can’t wait for the 800 at the end of the session.
Grigor was under the old age record too
Allan wins 100 Free. Excited for his pet events.