Southam stars in Bond Uni gold rush
BOND University swimmer Flynn Southam broke two Australian age records to headline a strong performance from the Bull Sharks.
The 15-year-old took more time off his own 100m swim – after breaking Kyle Chalmers’ record late last year – while he also broke the 50m freestyle national record.
Bond claimed 10 gold medals, with Mikayla Bird, 13, and Jesse Coleman, 16, also becoming national champions at the 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships.
Bond University director of swimming Kyle Samuelson was pleased with the results.
“We finished fifth overall as a club which is a tremendous result,” Samuelson said.
“We have two swimmers provisionally picked for the Junior World Championships in Flynn and Jesse Coleman, and it is really pleasing to see them swimming so fast.”
The Bull Sharks claimed six silver and six bronze in a breakout performance at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
There were also strong performances in the open division with Georgina Reinhart swimming excellence scholarship student Maddy Gough claiming the 1500m freestyle gold, Alex Graham silver in the 200m freestyle, Jenna Strauch silver in the 200m breaststroke and Abigail Schoorl bronze in the 50m butterfly.
“We’ve never been top 10 before, so to finish fifth was a huge deal,” Samuelson said.
“We are a smaller team than the clubs that finish above us, we definitely punch above our weight.
“The focus shifts to Olympic trials in June and then the Olympics if our swimmers are selected. The juniors will now focus on Junior World Championships camp in July and competition racing in August.”