Day a swim ambassador

SURFERS Paradise ironman star Ali Day has joined forces with some of the biggest names in swimming as an ambassador for Swimming Australia’s Australia Swims campaign – urging everyone to swim and celebrate a quintessential part of Australian life.

The five-time Coolangatta Gold champion will join ranks with legendary Olympians Ian Thorpe, Leisel Jones, Libby Trickett and Bronte Campbell.

“I’m absolutely honoured to get the call from Swimming Australia and Optus to join in what is a fun campaign,” Day said.

“I have swum all my life – it’s been my life and being an Ironman it is such a crucial, important part of what we do in our training routine.

“I’m in the water every day and I am lucky enough to swim with some of the best swimmers in the world.” FINN McGill and Vahine Fierro have announced themselves as surfing stars of the future after winning the World Junior Championship in Kiama this week.

Having come back from an ankle injury, McGill delivered a combined two-wave score of 16.90 under pressure from Japan’s Joh Azuchi in the men’s final to seal the crown.

“I was never feeling in much of a rhythm and seemed to just be sneaking through heats,” the Hawaiian said. “It all changed in my quarterfinal and all of a sudden I began to build and feel the flow.”

Meanwhile, Fierro defeated Summer Macedo in her final to become Tahiti’s first World Surf League champion.

“This is such an amazing way to end my junior career and kick off 2018,” she said.