Max makes Australia's Next Wave

Max Cunningham at the Australian Age Championships last month. Picture: Rebecca Ohlwein Swimming Australia

A superb five-medal haul at the national age championships has earned North Lakes' Max Cunningham a place in the Next Wave of Australian swimmers.

The 15-year-old former member of Grace Swim Club at Rothwell is one of 64 rising stars invited to the Next Wave Competition Camp in Canberra from July 6-12.

It follows his 50m backstroke gold; 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m butterfly silver; 100m butterfly bronze and fourth in 50m freestyle at the Australian Age Championships in Brisbane last month.

The top three from each Age event have been invited to the camp where they will race in teams and work with 14 coaches, five managers and performance staff.

All have been selected as part of Swimming Australia’s strategic development towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

Max said he was “lucky enough” to go to the New Zealand Short Course Championships last year with Swimming Queensland, but Next Wave tops his sporting resume.

“It is a Swimming Australia-run camp so is right up there as an achievement,” he said, “this camp is likely number one now.

“It’s always a surprise to be selected for these types of things. All I do is train hard and try my best on race day to get the best result I can, which helps make these opportunities.

“I’m looking forward to different coaches reviewing technique and looking at things I can improve on. Also hanging out with mates and building a really good team environment.”

Former Australian head coach and National Team Support Coach Leigh Nugent said it is “great” to have the Next Wave format “back on the national roster”.

“It’s something that’s been missing for the past 10 years,” he said. “Next Wave will provide meaningful experiences to our athletes and coaches prior to international exposure.

“It is set up to help prepare emerging athletes and developing coaches for when they make their benchmark Australian team by facilitating an intensive competition environment.

“Athletes will race multiple times and learn how to handle fatigue, maintain consistency in their performance and quickly improve on their learnings from one meet to the next.”

Max has switched from Churchie to Brisbane Grammar School and is now working with Bobby Javanovich, who has coached at BBGS since 2016.

“Things are going very well,” Max said, “Bobby has been very supportive and I am looking forward to a full year prep for next year’s nationals.”

Short-term his focus is on “Brisbane comps and the camp in Canberra”.