BEERWAH Swim Club has a new coach and personal bests are becoming the new norm as a host of swimmers prepare to head to Brisbane for the State Sprint Championships.
The club recruited former New Zealand national swimmer Danelle Sealey in November and has gone from strength-to-strength in just a few short months.
Out of a club of about 43 swimmers, nine have qualified for the state sprints, with five set for the national prep meet and nearly 20 to swim at the Wide Bay Championships.
Danelle said she was proud of what the club had achieved, with up and comers Ava Scott, 12, smashing her 200 individual medley by 21 seconds and Grace Pearson, 13, beating her 800 freestyle PB by 17 seconds.
“The Swimfit family, parents and swimmers have all been very welcoming and we are all enjoying seeing the massive PBs the swimmers are achieving already,” Danelle said
Grace said she loved swimming at the club.
“I’ve been doing it all my life and really enjoy it,” she said.
Young qualifier Ruby Potter was particularly chuffed at her results, saying water sports “are more my thing”.
“But I’m mostly excited because my mum when she was my age didn’t qualify, but I have,” Ruby said.
Danelle has had a lifelong association at a high level with swimming including coaching senior competitive swimmers, surf lifesaving swimmers and triathletes while living in New Zealand. “Over 30 of my swimmers qualified for Junior/Senior State National Competitions in the first year coming home with many loved medals,” she said.
“I then started up my own swim school teaching school age to mini squads before relocating with my family to Australia.
After some years away from swimming due to family commitments, Danelle has dived back in as head coach at Swimfit Beerwah; Danelle trains the Bronze, Silver, Gold squads, Masters and adult learn to swim classes.
Main image: Kids from the Beerwah Swimfit club are set for success
