Sprint Queen Holly Barratt Shines
The Australian Swimming Championships have drawn to a close but a big year of racing has only just begun. Our F-Teamers proved this week that they have what it takes to compete with the best on the world stage.
After five intense days of racing at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, F-Teamers Holly Barratt, Ben Armbruster, Brendon Smith and Isaac Cooper have all been named to the Commonwealth Games team. Cooper and Smith will also be racing in Budapest at the World Championships. In the process these four and our other stars have broken Australian records, won multiple gold medals, appeared in finals and achieved new personal bests when it mattered most.
Holly Barratt proved she still has what it takes at the age of 34, qualifying for her second Commonwealth Games in the Women’s 50m Butterfly. In Adelaide, Holly became the oldest Australian Champion in an individual event, clocking 26.02 to claim the title and placing 5th and 6th in the 50m Backstroke and Freestyle. In 2021 Holly had a big year of international racing. She was the only Australian to race at the short course World Championships in Abu Dhabi and remained overseas to take part in the World Cup circuit. Her decision to relocate to Melbourne to train with a new coach in a completely different environment has paid off.
Abby Schoorl of Bond narrowly missed the Commonwealth Games selection time to hit the wall third in the Women’s 50m Butterfly and Tiana Kritzinger was well under the qualifying time in the Women’s 1500m Freestyle, however having finished 4th was not selected as only the top three finishers are eligible.
17-year-old Matilda Smith of Hobart Aquatic is certainly on the rise in the Women’s breaststroke events. The teenager will be one to watch in the lead up to Paris. Matilda surprised even herself when she touched the wall 4th in the 100m breaststroke behind Chelsea Hodges, Abbey Harkin and Jenna Strauch. "I was shocked but so excited," Matilda said. She also placed 5th in the 50m Breaststroke and 4th in the 200m Breaststroke events. She was narrowly outside selection times in each of these events.
Our age-group swimmers are also on the cusp of mixing it with the nation’s best, showing they have what it takes. Teen Layla Day won gold in the 17-19 100m Backstroke and was 7th in the open 50m Backstroke. Lucy Dring showed what a versatile swimmer she is winning silver and bronze respectively in the age 200m and 100m Freestyle finals, as well as gold in both the age 200m Butterfly and 200m IM. Olivia Lefoe of Nunawading claimed bronze in the age 200m Backstroke and Emily White also claimed silver in the age 200m Butterfly, narrowly behind Lucy.
A big year of racing is about to get even bigger for our F-Teamers jet-setting off to take on the world in Budapest and Birmingham. To follow their journey be sure to follow our socials @funkitaswimwear.