Grace celebrating 14-medal haul

Published 6:00am 5 September 2023

Pictured above: From left - Grace swimmers Sam Baker, Alia Shaw and Lily Smith with their open water medals at Coolum.

Grace swimmers – past and present – have triggered an avalanche of medals in both national and Brisbane competitions.

North Lakes resident Max Cunningham was in record-breaking form at the National Schools Championships last month.

Cunningham, who was at Grace until joining Churchie, won two gold, four silver and two bronze medals from nine events.

He won the 14 Years 100m butterfly and was in the Churchie team which won gold and set an Australian record in the mixed medley relay.

Cunningham brought home silver in the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle relay.

Max Cunningham with his eight medals from the National Schools Championships.

There was also bronze in the 100m freestyle and 50m medley relay as well as fourth place with the 13-19 Years 100m relay squad.

Lachlan Farlow continued the medal rush winning three bronze at the National School Sport Swimming Championships in August.

In the 12 Years multi-class he won bronze in the mixed freestyle, mixed medley relays and 50m butterfly clocking 1 minute 4.67 seconds – a personal best by 7.15 seconds.

Lily Smith led Grace Swimming to one of the Rothwell Club’s most successful Brisbane Open Water Championships at the weekend.

Smith brought home a gold medal from the 18 Years Girls’ 5km event, crossing the line in 1 hour 8 minutes 53.44 seconds at Coolum.

Lachlan Farlow with his medals from the National Schools Championships.

Alia Shaw won a silver medal in the 14 Years Girls’ 5km, finishing in 1:08:54.43 and Sam Baker struck bronze in the 15 Years Boys’ 5km, touching in 1:08:17.90

There were top 10 finishes for Freya Saw who was seventh in the 12 Years Girls 2.5kms and Samantha Brown, ninth in the 15 Years Girls 5kms.

Completing the Grace team were Oliver Agafonov, Hayden Dymond, Lauren Dymond, Hayden Farlow, Soha Foroush, Mia Hagen, Leo Lawler, Macey Lawler, Casey Leaver, Joshua Mandryk, Alexander McRae, Brock Miller, Sienna Puzey, Joonseo Rhee, David Slater, Sheldon Vas-Diass.

Grace swimmers also met World Championship medal-winning swimmer Chelsea Gubecka, who happily posed for pictures.

Gubecka won silver at this year’s world titles 10km, bronze in the team event at Fukuoka and will be representing Australia at the Paris Olympics next year.