The Australian Commonwealth Games Association and Swimming Australia Limited announced their team for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games Team in Samoa. Many of the team members will also be competing at the FINA Jr World Championships in Singapore at the end of August.
ACGA Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite said: “Swimming has always been one of the most successful sports at Commonwealth Youth level since the first Games in Edinburgh in 2000. We are confident the swimmers named in the 2015 Team will again perform at their best and maintain the outstanding record set at previous Games.”
1984 Olympic silver medallist and former Olympic team coach, Glenn Beringen, has been appointed as head coach and will lead the team in Samoa.
“The Commonwealth Youth Games is an important stepping stone for these athletes who have their eyes on meets like the 2018 Commonwealth Games and beyond and to give them the best possible chance to step up over the next 12 months,” said Beringen. “The timing lines up perfectly with the other major meets on the international calendar and from our point of view it gives these swimmers an opportunity to do back-to-back meets. They’ll be coming off the World Junior Championships and going straight to Samoa so it will give them the chance to get used to travel, competition and then travel and another competition. It’s an exciting young group who have a great opportunity afforded to them by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.”
“The team was named off the back of the recent Georgina Hope Swimmers Foundation Australian Age Championships in Sydney that showcased the depth of talented teens that make up an exciting future pool for Swimming Australia. Swimming Australia recognises the importance of the Commonwealth Games as vital to the Australian psyche, and our partnership and support from the ACGA is crucial to our success in 2018 and beyond.”
2015 Commonwealth Games Youth Swimming Team:
- Gemmay Cooney
- Ariarne Titmus
- Nicholas Groenewald
- Amy Forrester
- Vincent Dai
- Bradley Woodward
- Lucy McJannett
- Jack Cartwright
- Elyse Woods
- Calypso Sheridan
- Brayden McCarthy
- Lucia Lassman
- Tristan Ludlow
- Clyde Lewis
Swimming has been Australia’s most successful sport at Commonwealth Youth Games. They won 26 medals in 2000, 34 medals in 2004, 36 in 2008, and 36 in 2012.