Leading Australian lifesavers headed for Adelaide

Top lifesavers from around the nation are set to compete in the prestigious Australian Pool Life Saving Championships being held in Adelaide at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre from Thursday 11th January 2018.

Over 200 champion lifesavers and officials from around the nation will be part of this major event that simulates real situations and emergencies. Competitors will be vying for selection in the Australian Lifesaving Team for the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships.

Explaining how each event directly simulates real situations and emergencies that lifesavers encounter, Royal Life Saving’s National Sport Advisor Robert Reid, explains “pool Lifesaving teaches everyone the skills that can not only save your life, but the life of someone else.”

The Australian Pool Life Saving Championships are held every year in a different state across the country and competitors range in age from 11 to 79 years old, highlighting that anyone can be a lifesaver.

Advising that there are five different events which test competitors' abilities in a range of different lifesaving techniques, Reid adds "the Australian Pool Life Saving Championships will see lifesavers compete in events including the Manikin Carry, Manikin Tow, Line Throw, Obstacle Swim and the Simulated Emergency Response Competition (SERC) – a timed event where lifesavers are tested on their initiative, judgement, knowledge and skills.

“All the events are based on rescuing a person who is in immediate danger."

There will be a battle of the states and territories who will be vying for the champion title. NSW will be working to retain the champion state title following their win in 2017.

Athletes will also be aiming for selection in the Australian Lifesaving Team for the upcoming World Championships, to be held in Adelaide through November and December 2018. There will be hot competition for the 12 places available on Open and Youth Teams.

The Australian Lifesaving Team recently became the most successful team from any nation to take on German Cup and Orange Cup, taking out every major team award and three Individual World Records, showing a glimpse of the dominant force this team could be in coming years.

The Championships take place from Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th January at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

Images: Mannikin tow action from the 2016 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships (top) and competition at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre (below).

18th December 2017 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA SECURES FURTHER MAJOR SWIMMING EVENTS 

21st November 2017 - YMCA PROMOTES ELITE WOMEN COACHES AT SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE

20th October 2017 - SWIMMING AUSTRALIA RE-ELECTS BERTRAND, LIVINGSTONE AND JOHNSON 

14th September 2017 - SA AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE OPENS MASSIVE ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER INSTALLATION

3rd June 2017 - SPEEDO ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTRALIA’S 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES SWIM TEAM 

17th January 2017 - NEW HEAD COACH FOR AUSTRALIAN LIFE SAVING TEAM

12th January 2017 - AUSTRALIAN POOL LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMENCE AT MSAC 

4th January 2017 - SA AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE IMPACTS COMMUNITY AND ELITE SWIMMERS IN REMARKABLE YEAR 

22nd January 2016 - QUEENSLAND WINS AT THE AUSTRALIAN POOL LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 

13th October 2014 - LIFESAVING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, RESCUE 2018, TO BE HELD IN ADELAIDE