Teen swimming star Lochlainn O'Connor comes close to world record

Teen swimming star Lochlainn O'Connor in action at a previous event. Photo / Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz

Tauranga swimming star Lochlainn O'Connor has come close to claiming a world record at the Australian Pool Rescue Championships.

The 18-year-old swimming star took out the under-19 100m rescue medley in 1min 02.82secs, just 0.7secs outside the youth world record, adding to the gold medal he won in the 50m manikin carry, silver in the 100m manikin carry with fins and a bronze medal in the under-19 200 obstacles final.

He was one of a nine-strong Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service contingent competing at championships for the first time, under the coaching of John Bryant and Cameron Witney, who were impressed with the performance of the whole team at the three-day titles on the Gold Coast last week.

"We finished in the top-six overall as a little New Zealand club with just nine athletes, which was incredible," Bryant said.

"Picking up nine golds was a big achievement for most of the Australian clubs, let alone us."

Tarquin Magner also picked up a flurry of medals, with the under-15 swimmer - on a scholarship in Brisbane - grabbing gold for the Mount in the 50m manikin carry, the 100m rescue medley and the 50m swim with fins. His 1min 08.15 rescue medley performance was better than the current Australian record, as was his 33.65 50m carry performance.

Olive Pearce, 16, also won the 100m manikin carry with fins in the under-17 division, adding gold in the 50m swim with fins. Her younger sister Lily grabbed gold in her division of the 50m swim with fins too.

Libby Bradley's open duel with New Zealand representative teammate Natalie Peat was one to be savoured, with Bradley grabbing silver in the 50m manikin carry, while Mia Gardiner picked up silvers in the 100m manikin carry with fins, the 50m swim with fins and bronze in the 100m manikin tow.

Bryant also praised the youngest member of the team, under-12 star Paige Martley, and said the entire team had learned a lot.

"The likes of Daniel Shanahan and Bella Ackroyd also raced really well and were close to, or right on, personal bests in a lot of their events - it's just a skill area they need to work on and they just need more racing."

Pool Rescue Championships are designed for elite lifesavers to keep them rescue ready for the start of the patrol season. The Australian championships were also good preparation for Mount Maunganui as they look towards the New Zealand titles in October.

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