Madison’s medal haul: Four gold, Championships’ best
RISING swimming sensation Madison Cooper headlined Geelong Swimming Club’s stellar performance at the Victorian Country Swimming Championships in Warrnambool, returning home with seven medals — of which four were gold.
A former finalist of the Geelong Advertiser Junior Sports Star of the Year award, the supremely gifted 15-year-old also took out the prestigious Australia Day Medal, which is awarded to the best male and female performance at the championships.
“For Madi to rise to the most successful female from over 700 competitors is truly a remarkable individual achievement, especially given it has been 45 years since the club has had such success,” proud Geelong Swimming Club president Glenn Benson said.
“It was fitting that the previous winner from Geelong Swimming Club, Cheryl Hand who won it back in 1975, congratulated Madison on her accomplishment.”
Benson said the talented teenager’s historic achievement wasn’t the only outstanding performance in the pool.
“When you consider that there were over 750 competitors from Country Victoria, our club’s achievement of coming second overall with a team of just 55 swimmers – 29 of whom made finals – is a great achievement and a sound endorsement of our head coach Sam Ashby’s training regime,” added Benson.
Other notable achievements in Warrnambool included Dylan Logan with five gold medals and Matilda Byrnes with four.
The 12-year-old girls took out gold in every individual stroke including the medley and freestyle relay for their age division, while club stalwart Zachary Hussain captured a gold and three bronze medals.
In total, the Geelong Swimming Club returned home with a total of 42 medals – 18 gold, six silver and 18 bronze.
Benson was quick to state the strong effort at last weekend’s championships heralds the start of what promises to be the biggest year in the Geelong Swimming Club’s 135-year history.
With the acquisition of the Fiona Skinner Learn to Swim school at Christian College in Highton, it signals a busy period ahead for the ambitious Geelong sporting club.