Testing Themselves Against Australia’s Best
Arabella Tomlinson competed in the 200m Freestyle, delivering a strong performance to place 48th nationally. As Swim Captain, her willingness to step onto the national stage reflects both her leadership and commitment to continual improvement.
Reflecting on the experience, Arabella shared:
“It was a valuable experience and a great opportunity to race at a high level… Being on pool deck with Olympians and observing their approach to warm-up and race preparation provided valuable insight into elite-level competition.”
She also highlighted how competing at this level will benefit her and the team moving forward:
“Racing in that environment helped build my confidence, highlighted areas for continued improvement, and provided valuable experience competing at an open national-level event.”
Joanne Lou: Emerging Talent Excelling on a National Scale
Joanne Lou qualified in the 50m Breaststroke, achieving an impressive 67th place in Australia in open age competition, which is a remarkable result for a Year 10 student competing against senior athletes.
Joanne reflected positively on her performance and development:
“I performed better than I could’ve expected, getting almost a second improvement in a 50-sprint event… It was truly an unforgettable experience being able to compete in the same premises as world-renowned Australian swimmers.”
Her time at the Trials was immediately followed by selection into the National Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (NOAI) Camp, where she was invited after placing in the top four nationally in the theory component—an extraordinary demonstration of her ability to balance elite sport and academic excellence.
“Both events were incredible opportunities… which have been rewarding experiences that have helped me grow both academically and athletically.”
