Inspired Matilda claims gold

WITH new swimming sensation Ariarne Titmus as inspiration, Matilda Smith has got Tasmania on the board at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships.

The 14-year-old Rose Bay High student was Australia’s fastest in the 13-14-year-olds 100m breastroke at the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre.

It was the first gold medal won by the home state.

“I was very excited,” Smith said of her win.

“I started swimming in PE at the end of Grade 5, then went along to a come-and-try day and a club coach spotted me and said I should come along to training.”

Titmus, originally from Launceston, was the talk of the pool following the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast where the 17-year-old won three gold medals and a silver.

“She is an inspiration,” Smith said of Titmus.

“Seeing what she has done from Tasmania means others can do it as well.”

Smith has a busy event, as she will also compete in the 50m and 200m breastroke, and the 200m and 400m individual medley.

Smith was not the only Tassie talent to win a medal, with Sophie Botterill-James (silver 15-16 years 200m butterfly), Aurora Giuliani (silver 10-12 years 200m freestyle), Noah Kampard (silver 13-14 years 200m freestyle and bronze 400m freestyle) and Sophie Hills (bronze 10-12 years 200m freestyle multi-class) also on the podium.