Tara Murray
Western Aquatic Academy swimmers Sophia Ballan and Dmitry Sorokoletov made history when they swam at the Australian Age Swimming Championships last month.
Having made the championships for the first time, the two also became the first two swimmers from the academy to compete at national level.
Academy head coach Paul Taylor said it was pretty exciting for everyone at the club to see the success of two swimmers.
“Everyone was pumped and their teammates helped them with training and gave them a special send off,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of swimmers swim at that level, but they are the first from this club. It takes a lot to get to this level.
“We started the club from scratch in 2017. They were all junior swimmers and nowhere near that level… but it was always at the back of my mind.”
Taylor said both swimmers had put a lot of work in as they prepared for nationals. He said Sophia was really focused on achieving a time to qualify her.
He said Dmitry was more laid back, but was the hardest trainer in the squad.
Sophia competed in the 13-14 girls 50 metre freestyle event, finishing in 82nd with a time of 29.46.
Taylor said it had been an interrupted preparation for her.
“She expected a little more from herself,” he said. “She was out of the water for a week before nationals after having stitches for a head injury.
“She looked pretty good and it was one of her fastest times, but it wasn’t as fast as the state final.”
Dmitry competed in the boys 14 years 100 metre freestyle event, finishing 41st. It was his fastest time by nearly two seconds, hitting the wall in 56.66 seconds.
Taylor said Dmitry had predicted he was in for a good swim.
“1.96 [second PB] is unbelievable,” he said. “As one of his coaches I expected he would get a personal best.
“He told me before the race he thought he could get a time in the 56s. I thought he could get a 57. He didn’t have the greatest start but he came home like a train and won his heat.”
Taylor said both swimmers were already looking to improve and were doing more dry land sessions on top of their seven to eight pool sessions a week.
He said other swimmers at the club were now seeing what they could achieve.
“The other kids see someone like Dmitry and Sophia train so hard to get to that level and achieve what they have and want to do the same.”
