Teen spirit takes Zahlie to the Olympic trials
A Geelong teenager will experience the rigours of Olympic qualification after her best showing at this year’s Australian Age and MC Age Championships on the Gold Coast.
Zahlie Snijders, who won silver medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle girls’ 14year-old finals at this month’s championships, will attend Olympic trials in Brisbane in June alongside Geelong Swimming Club teammates Cameron Ricchini, Nicole Briscoe and Jessie Steinman.
“I’m more going for the experience of swimming against top-level swimmers,” Snijders said.
“From what I’ve heard, it’s such a different meet because the stakes are on for everyone. Even Olympic swimmers need to be good at that meet so they get selected.”
Level-headed about her chances of selection, the experience will nevertheless be one Snijders hopes sets her up future success.
“It’s my dream to go to the Olympics or represent Australia,” she said.
Snijders was one of 15 athletes who competed at the Australian Age Championships for Geelong Swimming Club, and one of three to win medals.
Ricchini took home bronze in the 18-year-old boys’ 400m individual medley, while
Jacob Riches won bronze with the Victorian mixed 13 and 14year-old 4x50m medley state relay team.
Snijders said she knew what to expect after attending the championships last year, including the tactics that would best set her up for success in finals.
“It was exciting because it was my first national medals and I was very proud because it was clear all the training I’d put in, it felt like it had paid off,” she said.
“You want to do well in heats but better in the final.
“It was really interesting to see how everyone did it.
“Some people in the heats would go amazing but then come to finals, they would struggle to back it up.
“In my heats, I’d make sure I did enough to get to the final but I didn’t want to spend all my energy and use everything I’d got.”
Snijders, who enjoys being a role model to her younger brother and sister who also swim, has eight pool sessions and three gym sessions a week in a bid to realise her Olympic dream.
Head coach Aaron Tenabel said the club was proud of all its athletes’ efforts.
“That’s testament to a whole lot of working and a lot of planning,” he said before thanking all who supported the club.
Another four swimmers made their debuts at the nationals. Dax Conheady made a final in his first appearance at the event.
“It’s really exciting for our club,” Tenabel said. “We have a long-term development plan and we’re trying our best to make sure all our athletes are having fun along their journey to being a competitive swimmer and gradually working to becoming an open-level swimmer.”
“I’m more going for the experience Zahlie Snijders Geelong swimmer