Top Lifesavers make waves at 2018 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships

With a broken world record, two new world records set, new personal bests and a wave of new talent having competed, top lifesavers from around the country have just returned from the 2018 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships.

Staged at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre from Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th January, the Championships tested competitors’ abilities in lifesaving, with each event directly simulating real situations and emergencies that lifesavers encounter.

Among top achievements, Sarah Goodwin from South Australia broke the world record for the Masters M35 female 100m rescue medley with a time of 1.39.89. Jenny Whitely from New South Wales set two new records for the Masters M55 with a time of 3:05:41 in the 200m superlifesaver, and a time of 1:31:53 in the 100m rescue medley.

For the second year in a row Queensland State Team member, 24-year-old Mariah Jones was awarded female lifesaver of the meet. Mariah also won the Women’s Open Individual Overall Championship, and Women’s Individual Lifesaving Race.

First time Australian Pool Life Saving Championship competitor, 14-year-old TJ Chong Sue from the Western Australia State Team was awarded male lifesaver of the meet. TJ also won the Men’s under 16 Individual Overall Championship and Men’s Junior Australia Cup.

NSW retained the coveted champion state title for the second year in a row, ahead of Queensland in second place, and Western Australia in third place.

Blake McCrindle, NSW Team Coach was ecstatic about the team’s result, stating “it was a truly team effort from this very young group of athletes.

“They came together and helped out where ever needed and got the job done. Winning the interstate competition as a coach means so much more than as an athlete.

“We could not have done this without the support of the other great coaches from NSW who put in the countless hours before handing their athletes over to me.”

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia National Sport Advisor Robert Reid added "this national event sees the very best pool lifesavers getting together. Competition in the pool is tight with a very high standard of athleticism demonstrated across the five events.”

The 2019 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships will be held in Sydney.

Click here to see the full results from the 2018 Australian Pool Life Saving Championships. 

Images: Action from the 2018 Australian Pool Life Saving Championship (top and middle) and the Championships' Livesavers of the Meet: Mariah Jones of Queensland [left] and TJ Chong Sue of Western Australia [right] (below). 

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