Five Tamworth City swimmers will dive into the same waters as their heroes when they compete at the Australian Age Swimming Championships which get underway in Adelaide on Monday.
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The age titles follow on from the national senior championships where the likes of Kyle Chalmers, Mitch Larkin and Ariarne Titmus starred.
Edward George, Brinez Lantz, Alex Hayes, Connor Roberts and Patrick Bolte will form the Sharks' biggest nationals representation for a long time, if not in the club's history, and have been training hard under the guidance of coach Nicholas Monet in readiness.
After only qualifying for one event at last years championships, and as he put it - "by chance", Roberts will have a big program, qualifying for the 17-years boys 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley.
He will go in with high hopes after winning four medals, including gold in the 200m medley, at the state titles late last year, and is looking at the meet as a chance to show himself what he is capable of.
"It is extremely humbling knowing that I am qualified for eight events in which most I am ranked within the top 10 in my age group in Australia," Roberts said in a profile snapshot on the Tamworth City Swimming Club Facebook page.
He will also team up with Lantz, George and Bolte in the 14-17-years 4x100m medley relay, in what will be another first for the club.
Lantz has also qualified for multiple events.
As well as the relay, he will compete in the 15-years 50m and 100m freestyle, and 200m individual medley and is fresh from winning gold in both freestyle events at the recent Country Championships.
Hayes is the youngest of the contingent and will swim in the 13-years girls 100m and 200m breaststroke, and said she is very proud to represent the Sharks on the national stage.
"Competing at nationals and representing Tamworth City really shows what hard work can do," she said.
For George qualifying for the nationals has been a long-time goal.
"To finally make it is a massive achievement for me," he said.
