STAPLES OUT TO MAKE WAVES IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT
April 28: Gosford City Council surfing instructor and lifeguard Lachlan Staples will be out to make waves of his own after today being officially added to Australia's Telstra Dolphins Australian Swim Team for this year's FINA World Swimming Championships in Rome.
Swimming Australia has called the 18-year-old into the Dolphins team to replace suspended Australian champion Nick D'Arcy for the vacant 200m butterfly position.
Staples finished third behind D'Arcy and Queensland's Christopher Wright in the 200m butterfly final at the Telstra Australian Championships in a time of 1:57.53 - under the A qualifying time required for team selection.
He will now join Wright in the event for Rome but will have his first assignment at next month's Australia v Japan Duel In The Pool at the AIS in Canberra on May 9 and 10.
Staples is coached at the Berkeley Vale Aquatic Centre by former Australian representative Zane King, who himself contested the 1998 FINA World Championships in Perth.
The youngster has made steady progress through the Swimming Australian system under National Youth coach Leigh Nugent and won three gold medals in the 100 and 200m butterfly and 4x100m medley relay at the 2008 Junior Commonwealth Games in Pune, India.
He also won three silver medals in the same events at this year's Junior Pan Pacs in Guam and will join his team mates Tommaso D'Orsogna, Ryan Napoleon, Ellen Fullerton and Blair Evans on the team for Rome.
"It's a dream come true to make a senior team and I will be in there doing my absolute best for Australia," said Staples, the
first Central Coast-coached pool swimmer since Steve Dewick in 1994 to make a World Championship team. (Ironically those championships were also in Rome).
"It's something that has come sooner than I thought and I suppose I am coming ‘off the bench' so to speak but plenty of sportsmen have been given this kind of opportunity in the past.
"It's all about making the most of that opportunity and to attend the Orientation Camp and race in the Duel In The Pool will be a great way to ease my way in to the team environment - I can't wait.
"Rome will be an awesome experience, racing against the best swimmers in the world and it's something I'm going to grab with both hands - if you are given that opportunity then you take it."
King said he certainly noticed the "fire in the belly" of his young charge had been ignited since the news filtered through.
"We are also lucky to have access to some long course water thanks to the Central Coast Academy of Sport and that is going to make a huge difference to his preparation," said King.
"We tossed around several ideas but the chance to get 10 good weeks under our belts and race at the Australian Grand Prix Meets will be perfect for him."
Staples works as a surfing instructor and lifeguard on Terrigal Beach, one of the Central Coast NSW's most popular holiday destinations but a summer stop over in Rome could well be just the major boost the youngster this home grown hero is looking for.
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LACHLAN STAPLES |
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D.O.B: |
19/05/1990 |
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AGE: |
18 |
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BORN: |
Gosford, NSW |
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LIVES: |
Kincumber, NSW |
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HGT: |
183cm |
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WGT: |
80kg |
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CLUB/INSTITUTE: |
KingSwim, NSW.NSWIS |
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TRAINS (Pool): |
Berkeley Vale Aquatic Centre, NSW |
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COACH: |
Zane King |
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Personal Best Times:
100m butterfly: 53.06 (2009 Telstra Trials)
200m butterfly: 1:57.53 (2009 (Telstra Trials)
Education: Kincumber High, 2007 (Lifeguard/Learn-to-surf). Gosford City Council.
- Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune, India Oct, 2008: 1st 100m butterfly 56.63 (GR); 200m butterfly 1:58.67 (GR); 4x100m medley relay 3:45.78 (GR)
- Junior Pan Pacs, Guam, January 2009: 2nd 100m butterfly (53.21), 200m butterfly (1:59.19); 4x100m medley relay (3:42.07).
- 2009 Telstra Australian Championships: 3rd 200m butterfly (1:57.53).