.: Press Releases

Olympian Ashley Delaney returns home, December 2009

30 December 2009

Nunawading Swimming Club Olympic finalist Ashley Delaney is coming back to Nunawading to train for a week in the lead-up to the 2010 Victorian Championships.  The Championships will be held at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre from 15th to 17th January 2010.  Ashley will join fellow Nunawading swimmers including Olympic Gold Medallists Leisel Jones and Shayne Reese as the Nunawading team prepares to defend their number one ranking in Victoria.

The Championships are part of the swimmers preparation for the 2010 Telstra Australian Championships to be held in Sydney in mid March.  The Club will be defending its National number one ranking at this meet while individual swimmers will be aiming to make the Australian teams for the Pan Pacific Championships and Commonwealth Games to be held later in the year.

Delaney will visit Melbourne in the week leading up to the Championships to train with team mates and will make a special appearance at the ‘Just Swimming’ School Holiday Swim Intensive Program on Wednesday 13th January 2010.

For all children who are enrolled in the week long swim intensive program at Aqualink Nunawading in the week beginning Monday 11th January, Delaney will meet them, sign autographs and be available for photos.

“I am really looking forward to racing again in Victoria and training with my team at Nunawading” said Delaney.  “I am also looking forward to meeting all the children from the Whitehorse region on 13th January.  I am keen to put back into assisting a swimming club that gave me an opportunity with my swimming and supported me when I came to Melbourne to train as a 17 year old”.

Parents of children aged up to 10 years are invited to phone Nunawading Swimming Club on 9878 7055 after Monday 4th January 2010 to book into the Intensive Program and meet Olympian Ashley Delaney.

Nunawading Swimmers Selected in Victorian Team, September 2009

12 September 2009

Six Nunawading Swimming Club swimmers have been selected in the Victorian Team to compete at the Australian Age Short Course State Teams Championships to be held this weekend at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Swimming Victoria has announced the team following the Victorian Age Short Course Championships held two weeks ago.

The successful swimmers selected on the Victorian Team are James Argiro, Jessica Batton, Michael Forno, Llewellyn Little, Stephanie Moore and Roxanne Perring.

The Club’s Head Age Coach Nick Veliades was also selected as one of the Victorian coaches.

“These swimmers have done a great job with both their training and competition performances over the winter season” said Head Age Coach Nick Veliades.  “They have trained consistently through the cold months and are being rewarded for their commitment to the sport”.

“It will be a great challenge for all of our swimmers” said the Club’s Head Coach Amanda Isaac.  “They will have the opportunity to compete against the best swimmers in Australia this weekend and we look forward to watching their progress at the Championships”.

Club President Malcolm Moore congratulated the swimmers and coaches at the Club Championships held on Saturday.  He also thanked Swimming Australia and Swimming Victoria for their continued support of swimmers and for offering this new innovative State Teams Championship.

For a majority of swimmers, the Club Championships were their final opportunity to race for the winter season and many club members swam personal best times. 

Medals were presented throughout the day by a variety of members including 2009 World Championship silver and bronze medallist Sarah Katsoulis and Olympic Gold medallist and triple Olympian Leisel Jones. 

The highlight for all the 10 year and under swimmers was the opportunity to meet and have their photo taken with Leisel.

Record Number of Swimmers in Victorian Squad, July 2009

22 July 2009

Swimming Victoria has announced the State Development Squads for the 2009/10 season and the Nunawading Swimming Club has a record 28 swimmers selected in the squads. 

With the squads just announced these swimmers join 17 swimmers who are supported by the Victorian Institute of Sport as they prepare for the major events in the second half of 2009 and first half of 2010.

Head Coach Amanda Isaac said that “The performances of Nunawading swimmers over the past 6 months have been excellent and their selection in these squads is a testament to the work they have done in training and the direction provided by their coaches.” 

The Club congratulated Swimming Victoria on their continued support of swimmers in the region and for providing swimmers with the opportunities to gain competition experience and to train with the best swimmers in the State.

“Swimming Victoria continues to provide opportunities to develop talented swimmers within the State” said Nunawading President Malcolm Moore.  “There is no doubt that the experiences provided to swimmers in the club have assisted in their continual development”.

The Victorian Development Squads provide the underpinning pathways to becoming a Victorian Institute of Sport athlete.

The following swimmers were recognised for their performances.

Open Development Squad – Amy White, Adam Parslow, Katie Bird

Target 2012 Gold Squad – Belinda Bennett, James Argiro, Llewellyn Little, Ellese Zalewski

Target 2012 Silver Squad – Samantha Bennett, Jack Currie, Travis Mahoney, Roxanne Perring, Sam Sheppard

Target 2012 Bronze Squad – Mark Bustard, Dylan Cossari, Liam Fisk, Michael Forno, Jessica Forster, Tyran Groves, Nikaylah Hanlen, Ben Haralambakis, Scott Huang, Kimberly McDonald, Nerice Smith, Alex Venning

Junior Talent Squad – Nicholas Groenewald, Joel Watson

Open Water Touring Team – Jessica Batton, Belinda Bennett, Kimberley McDonald, Sam Sheppard

Swimmers with a Disability Squad – Julia Algie

Swimmer selected for World Dwarf Games, July 2009

25 June 2009

Nunawading Swimming Club’s Samantha Lilly has been selected to represent Australia in this year’s World Dwarf Games in Belfast, Northern Ireland in July. This is the first time Australia has sent a team to the Games.

The team consists of 15 athletes, including 2 swimmers. Samantha will be presented with her Games uniform at the Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA) gala dinner on Saturday 4th July, with a Nunawading cheer squad in attendance.

The Games open on 26th July with Sam competing in the 50 free, 50 back, 50 fly, 100 free and the freestyle relay on the 28th July.

The World Dwarf Games will be Samantha’s first international swim meet.

Samantha’s coach Melissa Klamt is very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Samantha.  “Sam has made a lot of progress over the past two years.  She has committed to the training program that has been implemented for her and as a result has improved her performances across the board”.

“We all wish Sam well and congratulate her on selection for the team which is well deserved. Those who train with Sam know she is a dedicated athlete who always gives 100% at training. Sam is a huge support and great motivator to those around her”. 

Yuri selected for Maccabiah Games, July 2009

25 June 2009

Nunawading Swimming Club’s Yuri Burunov has been selected to represent Australia at the 18th Maccabiah Games to be held from 12th – 24th July 2009.  

The Maccabiah Games are an International Jewish athletic event, open to all Jewish people and is held in Israel every 4 years. The Maccabiah Games are also recognised as a Regional Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Close to 8000 athletes from 60 countries will be competing in 31 sports at the Games, meaning this is set to be the biggest Maccabiah Games since it began in 1957.

The Games are split into 3 categories: Juniors, Masters and Open.

Yuri will be competing in the Open section, racing the 100 fly, 200 fly, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back and 3 relay events over 4 days of competition.

Yuri’s coach Melissa Klamt congratulated Yuri on his selection.  “Yuri is training well and is looking forward to representing Australia at these Games.”