Published 8 September 2023

Carrying the weight of expectation can test the greatest athletes, but the Royal Life Saving Development Team has a secret weapon to overcome the challenge: each other.

Most of the team have never competed at an international event, so the butterflies and nervous excitement will be common ground for all members of the squad as they take on some of the world’s best at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Ontario, Canada.

The athletes, who represent clubs across Australia, include sisters Paige and Jemma Holt from Melbourne. Both are looking forward to the challenge of competing at an international level and sharing that experience.  

It’s a family affair too for Leah Jones, from Tweed Heads, who will be joining older sister Mariah at the Championships. Mariah is on the National Team and encouraged her sister to get involved in pool lifesaving. Leah is the team co-captain.

Reidel Smith from Melbourne won’t have a sibling at the Championships, but her cousin Holly Holmesby is on the National Team travelling to Canada. Reidel’s parents met when they represented Australia in lifesaving teams, so Reidel is especially proud to be carrying on the family representation.

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the dreams of some of the team, who were on the cusp of making the international stage when the global travel restrictions curtailed opportunities to compete.

Kirra Dale from Moruya NSW was one of those affected and initially quit swimming altogether. In 2022, missing the camaraderie of pool lifesaving, she donned the goggles again and is thrilled to have been selected for the Development Team.

Similarly, Kelton Rothnie from Perth WA had just made the youth Aussie Barras Team in 2019, when borders shut and competitions ceased. The Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships will mark his international debut.

Joel Piper from the Sunshine Coast was due to join that same Aussie Barras Team and is looking forward to the opportunity four years on to ‘don the green and gold’ for the first time.

For Brayden Woodford of Corrimal, NSW this won’t just be his first time representing Australia, but his first time ever overseas. Having looked up to the ‘bigger kids’ competing, he now has the chance to demonstrate his prowess in the pool.

Daniel Miller from the Sunshine Coast was so keen to make this team, he pushed himself to compete at the Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships, despite having a seriously injured leg. With the leg heavily bandaged he still managed to outshine fellow competitors and book himself a spot on the Development Team.

Luke Lineham of Victoria has put the pool lifesaving skills to use outside competition, rescuing a friend who had got into trouble in the water and panicked. The shock of seeing a very competent swimmer struggling keeps Luke inspired to continuously work on his lifesaving skills and mentor younger lifesavers coming up through the pool lifesaving ranks. Luke is the team co-captain.

The Development Team are all keen to make their mark in Ontario and use the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships to bring home Gold for Australia.

We’ll be cheering them on with representatives on the pool deck to support them and the well-wishes from Australia. Keep your eye on the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia website for regular updates as they take to the water from 15 September 2023.

A livestream of the championships will be available to view on RecTecTv.ca once competition begins on September 15.