Mariah Jones and Jake Smith secure top honours at Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships

Australian Lifesaving Team athlete Mariah Jones, competing for club team Sunshine Coast Grammar, Queensland has won the Female Lifesaver of the Meet at the Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships, held last week in Melbourne.

Jones, who combines herl talents in the pool with working as a lifeguard supervisor on the Tweed Coast, was also awarded the Women’s Open Individual Overall Championship - Soden Shield and the Women’s Open Australia Cup - Julie Ann Lamont Memorial Trophy.

The same event has also seen Jake Smith from Western Australia named as the Male Lifesaver of the Meet - his third Lifesaver of the Meet honour in a row, having taken home the award in 2022 and 2023.

Remarkably recovering from two fractured wrists, Smith was also awarded the Men’s Open Individual Championship Trenchard Miller Trophy

He is now preparing to take on the world at the Lifesaving World Championships in August 2024.

Overall, the Western Australian State Team edged out strong competition from the Victorian and NSW State Teams to claim victory winning the Interstate Overall Championship and the Sir Percy Joske Trophy. WA last won this title 22 years ago, back in 2002.

Over 150 champion lifesavers from across Australia took part in what Justin Scarr, Chief Executive of Championship organiser Royal Life Saving Society - Australia says was a tough competition amongst elite athletes.

Scarr advised “this is a major event on our calendar.

“It's incredible to see the skills of lifesavers across the country put to the test the pool.

“Drowning is still a major issue for Australia, with 281 lives lost in 2022/2023, and it continues to be a tragic summer.

“The Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning toll shows 62 people have drowned across Australia since summer started, a 19% increase on last summer.”

Competitors at the Championships took part in real life rescue scenarios. This included the mannequin carry, obstacle swim and the simulated emergency response competition. During this event lifesavers are tested on knowledge, skills, and initiative.

The Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships were held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre from Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th January.

Other results included:

• Sir Percy Joske Trophy for the Overall Interstate Championships - Western Australia

• Female Lifesaver of the Year - Mariah Jones - Queensland

• Interstate Men’s Overall Championship Trophy - Western Australia

• Interstate Women’s Overall Championship Trophy - Victoria

Click here to view the full results. 

Images: Jake Smith and Mariah Jones with their honours. Credit: Royal Life Saving Society - Australia.