Celebrating Summer Swimming🎉

This summer swimming season has been nothing short of sensational for Team GSC.

First time qualifiers and breakout performances from some young guns at State Age Long Course Championships (MSAC) in December were followed immediately by tough swimming at the Victorian Open Water Championships (Geelong).

A very fit, fast and focussed start to the 2025-26 season was the result of early training blocks, led by GSC's coaching team. They were supported with additional coaching resources and the opportunity to use Kardinia exclusively from 6-8am on Saturdays and a swing to the integrated strength and conditioning support at Deakin University.

Photos from our full Saturday morning training at Kardinia Aquatic Centre

Some red hot GSC athlete performances, from Juniors through to Masters, at the annual surf events culminated in many very impressive swims at the Pier to Pub in Lorne.

What followed a week later was among the closest and toughest Country Championships in years. Team GSC, with surf absences and having launched several senior athletes to next level swimming over the last year, competed with skills, belief, grit and determination that we know made our community proud. 

Celebrating the win at Country Championships!

It is great to 'win' the Championship, however real winning comes from participating, trying our best, supporting others, overcoming small adversities and showing our community how much we care by volunteering in very large numbers!

It was fantastic to experience Countries at home in Geelong and see how Kardinia stood up and handled the meet so well. We know it needs renovation and improvement, but it remains a privilege to be headquartered at Victoria's best championship pool complex, after MSAC in Albert Park. It was incredible to have Life Members attend and share in the event. They are a reminder to everyone we are part of something bigger and as Peter Doak and Tony Strahan can attest, Kardinia is a lot better place to train than the sea baths at Eastern Beach in the 1960s.

Kardinia Aquatic Centre sparkling at Countries - and reflected in our Limited Edition Meet Tshirt!

A week after Countries, we already see senior athletes doing lactate threshold and other testing as they enter the twelve-week block to Nationals, junior athletes working toward District Championships, individuals continuing to hone skills and the entire club preparing for the Club's March 15 meet at Kardinia. We look forward to making that a success!

It is important that Geelong and the south coast are increasingly home to some of the biggest events on the Victorian and Australian swimming calendar. We swim in one of Australia's most diverse and premier aquatic regions.

GSC is seeking to leverage that, pursuing access to 'more water' as we continue to expand, and looking to every opportunity to lift from the leading club in Country Victoria and a constant Top 10 Victorian Club, to being custodian of Australia's leading regional aquatics programs.

If Countries taught us something big this year, it is that culture matters most.

We shouldn't rest, but right now, the culture at GSC is strong, supportive and focussed on everyone.

Tim Woods, Club President

Celebrating our closely-fought, fifth consecutive win at LC Country Championships!