FIVE of Loxton’s youngest athletes have been recognised by Swimming Australia for their performances during the 2019/20 swim season, which officially concluded on April 30.
Delivered in conjunction with all states and territories, the national Bio Island Australian JX program awards gold, silver, bronze and blue standards to athletes based on their race times over the season.
Local swimmers Anwen Dalzell, 9, Jessica Inglis, 13, Jordana Furniss, 13, Saskia Gibbs, 11, and Tilly Groth, 9, were among the 13,663 recognised for their achievements, much to the joy of Loxton Swimming Club president Trini Hale.
“We’re really proud of those swimmers,” Ms Hale said.
“To get that acknowledgement, they have to meet some standard qualifying times, and they worked hard. It was just a great achievement.”
Anwen ranked the highest among the group, receiving the top gold standard.
Ms Hale said the program results showed the club had some up-and-coming swimmers to keep an eye on.
“Those awards are recognising swimmers from between the ages of eight and 13,” she said.
“So it means that they’re meeting a certain standard already at that age.
“I think they will achieve greatness as they get into a more senior level of swimming.”
Ms Hale said there was potential for other swimmers to have been recognised if the season continued, but the club was lucky to have had as many races as it did.
“For us, we were lucky enough that we got 95 per cent through our season – we only missed one or two races at the end of the season,” she said.
“There was potential that other swimmers could’ve made those times towards the end of the season, (but) for those swimmers (who were recognised), they put in effort early on in the season to get those times.”
Ms Hale said she hoped the club could deliver the same results next season.