Funkettes Heading North

Whether it’s the climate, the beaches, the fresh mangos or the growing pool of world-class athletes, coaches and training facilities, there is something good in the Queensland water that is luring Australia’s best swimmers to pack extra sunscreen and their tropical Funkitas and head north (east for some of those out west). Here’s a few funkettes from our F-Team who are now calling Queensland home as they get primed for 2022 and beyond.

Ash Weill (St. Andrews) and Layla Day (Bond) have relocated from Victoria, and Jemima Horwood (USC Spartans) from Western Australia. Ash and Jemima have also followed their coaches and the new training environments have sweetened the deal. Layla made the bold move from Bendigo East Swim Club, where she has been for 10 years and during her time there was awarded the Funky Trunks & Funkita Victorian Country Swimming Scholarship. The transition from a country club to a metro club may seem somewhat daunting, however Layla like the other F-Teamers is keen to make her mark in the new environment.

Mikayla Smith has also made the move to the sunny state, just like her brother Brendon, the Olympic bronze medallist, who spearheads those who have relocated. For the pair, the move was sparked by their former coach Wayne Lawes’ decision to retire after the Tokyo Olympics. It is a huge bonus for Brendon to have the support of his big sister Mikayla alongside him at their new club of Griffith University, coached by Michael Bohl.

With Commonwealth Games being the pick for Australian Team selection in 2022, here’s hoping the sacrifices pay dividends for our F-Teamers.