Para- swimmer sets pool on fire
Templeton in the fast lane for Tokyo after freestyle blitz
AN Olympic medal dream is firmly on track for Tasmanian para- swimmer Jacob Templeton after a triple- recordbreaking performance at the Australian Virtual Short Course championships.
Templeton, who hails from Devonport but is now based in Brisbane, set three world records in the S13 class in a sizzling showing less than a year out from the rescheduled Tokyo Games.
The 25- year- old, who reached two finals in Rio on his Olympics debut in 2016, lowered the world record in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events, while also taking out the multi- class points score in the two shorter distances.
He finished second in the 400m multi- class after USC
Spartan teammate Braedan Jason — who previously held the S13 world record — also broke a world record now competing in the S12 class.
Templeton added two third placings in the 100m backstroke and 200m medley to cap an outstanding weekend.
“Definitely pleased, I won’t say surprised because it has been a really good block of work, so more pleasing than anything,” Templeton said.
“I was not 100 per cent fresh for the meet, we still have our Queensland longcourse titles in two weeks and they are the priority in the team I am in, because it is a long- course meet.
“But it was really important to do well on the weekend because it was nationals, every time you race, especially this year there is limited opportunities, so it was important to step up and do well.
“I really want to win a medal in Tokyo, that’s been my dream for the last four years, even more than that.
“Getting a taste of it in Rio was awesome, making two finals was a real good achievement at the time but having done that, I suppose you always want to do better.”
Records were also broken by Tasmanians on home water at the Hobart Aquatic Centre.
Matilda Smith, 16, set a new mark of 32.29 seconds in the 50m breaststroke, 14year- old Ella Chan broke the 50m butterfly record with 28.03 seconds, Max Giuliani, 17, set new marks in the 100m freestyle ( 50.04) and 400m freestyle ( 3: 57.89).