Max wins first Dolphins call-up

North Lakes’ Max Cunningham has achieved one of his “main goals” - and later this year will represent Australia for the first time.

The 16-year-old is in the Junior Dolphins team to face Canada, Japan and the US at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Vancouver.

Cunningham has qualifying times for the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly but his program in Vancouver (August 17-20) has yet to be confirmed.

It will, however, be a sizeable step up from his previous overseas experience with Swimming Queensland at the New Zealand Short Course Championships in 2024.

“It feels good going to Junior Pan Pacs,” the former Grace Lutheran Rothwell swimmer said, “I’m pretty happy.

“This was always a goal leading up to the Age Championships and will definitely be the toughest level of competition I’ve faced.”

Cunningham, a Year 12 student at Brisbane Grammar School where he trains, took the Age 16 Years 100m butterfly in 53.37 seconds and 100m freestyle in 49.97.

He also won the 50m butterfly final in 24.17 seconds after setting an Australian age group record of 24.09 in the heats - but that was short of the Pan Pacs qualifying time.

“At the Age Championships my main goal was to make Junior Pac Pacs team,” Cunningham said. “I already had 100m butterfly (qualifying) time from the State titles.

“I wanted to do the qualifying time again and just missed out on a couple of other targets … but that’s all good.

“I’m happy with where I am at the moment, but there’s always more to find, more come. After that we’ll see where the wind takes me.”

Cunningham said Brisbane 2032 is a “massive goal being a home Olympics” and Los Angeles 2028 is “kind of in the view”.

He will not trial for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, but focus instead on preparing for the Junior Pan PACs.

All this while juggling Year 12 school work, a part-time job and training. “I’m almost 17 so hopefully I’ll also be able to drive myself soon,” Cunningham said.