By David Nagel
Over the Christmas period, the News’ sports team will be re-sharing some of the most popular stories from over the course of 2024.
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Cardinia Piranhas Swimming Club is beaming with pride after eight young athletes did the club proud at the recent Australian Country Swimming Championships in Darwin.
The Piranhas, based at Cardinia Life in Pakenham, had swimmers qualify from ages eight to 17 years old, with all making finals and returning to their hometown with a suitcase full of memories after four days of competition against swimmers from right across Australia.
Some even returned home with bulging suitcases, with a combined 20 medals returning home to Pakenham.
Qualifying heats were held in the morning with the fastest 10 swimmers going through to the evening finals.
“Every swimmer qualified for a finals event each day which is an incredible achievement and a testament to the training and dedication that goes in to preparing for an event such as this,” said Piranhas secretary Julia Grave.
“The club had an incredibly successful meet with swimmers attaining personal best times, state and metropolitan qualifying times and a collection of bronze, silver and gold medals.”
The eight swimmers who made the trip north were Olivia Oak Camoes-Costa, Emma Eagleton, Isla Eagleton, Emma Grave, Heath Grave, Raymond Grave, Isabelle Mills and Willow Rogers.
The meet attracted over 300 swimmers from across Australia, including gold medal Olympian, world record holder and Commonwealth Games champion Chelsea Hodges.
Hodges ran a clinic for junior swimmers prior to the meet, providing them with an insight on her swimming journey and what it means to be an elite athlete.
Grave also noted that the Piranhas are very fortunate to have a team of coaches who are dedicated to preparing and training every swimmer so that they can attain their personal best.
Cooper Lambert is the Head Coach for the Junior Performance and Senior Performance Squads and prepared the swimmers for Darwin.
Lambert swam competitively for over 10 years, competing at a National Level; both in the pool and in the ocean, whilst also competing at every state level, from State Sprints and State Open Championships.
“His journey through competitive swimming has not only instilled a strong work ethic, but also a profound understanding of the discipline, perseverance and strategic approach required to excel in the sport,” Grave said.
“He also understands the value of integrating enjoyment and teamwork into training, whilst having an emphasis on technique, a competitive spirit and having fun.”
Piranhas Performance – Youngest to Oldest
OLIVIA OAK CAMOES-COSTA: AGE 8
Bronze medalist in the 50m Backstroke and attained PBs in all of her events.
EMMA EAGLETON: AGE 10
Seventh 50m Breaststroke, ninth 100m Freestyle.
WILLOW ROGERS: AGE 11
Gold medal; 50m Freestyle, Silver; 50m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke, Bronze; 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly.
ISLA EAGLETON: AGE 12
Eighth 100m Freestyle (State Qualifier), ninth 100m Backstroke and fifth 50m Freestyle (State Qualifier).
RAYMOND GRAVE: AGE 12
Gold medals; 50m and 100m Backstroke (State Qualifiers), Bronze; 200m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke (All State Qualifiers).
EMMA GRAVE: AGE 15
Silver medals; 50m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle, Bronze; 200m Individual Medley, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke and 200m Breaststroke (State Qualifiers in all events).
ISABELLE MILLS: AGE 15
Ninth 50m Backstroke, eighth 200m Freestyle, tenth 50m Butterfly, fourth 100m Freestyle B Final, eleventh 200m Backstroke.
HEATH GRAVE: AGE 17
Fifth 100m Breaststroke, tenth 100m Freestyle, fifth 100m Backstroke, second 50m Breaststroke B Final, third 50m Freestyle B Final (State qualifier).
