F-Teamers set for Birmingham & Budapest
The Australian Swimming Championships have drawn to a close but a big year of racing has only just begun. Our F-Teamers proved this week that they have what it takes to compete with the best on the world stage.
After five intense days of racing at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, F-Teamers Ben Armbruster, Brendon Smith, Isaac Cooper and Holly Barratt have all been named to the Commonwealth Games team. Cooper and Smith will also be racing in Budapest at the World Championships. In the process these four and our other stars have broken Australian records, won multiple gold medals, appeared in finals and achieved new personal bests.
Brendon Smith is certainly one of Australia’s most consistent and versatile swimmers, claiming gold in both the Men’s 200 IM and 400 IM at the champs. Wearing his APEX Predator X he blitzed the field and stormed home in 1:58.59 in the 200, and in the 400 clocked 4:11.88. In doing so he was well under both the Worlds and Commonwealth Games selection times. On the opening event of the program, the Men’s 400m Freestyle, Smith also swum under the Swimming Australia Qualifying Time to post 3:47.95, however being 4th missed selection.
Olympian Isaac Cooper continues to go from strength-to-strength since his incredible year in 2021. Cooper swum out of his skin in the Men’s 50 Back to not only break the Australian Record (24.44), but also clocked under the Commonwealth Games selection time.
Cooper swam hot in the Men’s 50m Butterfly to claim the bronze in another swim under the Commonwealth Games selection time, and claimed the Men’s 50m Freestyle bronze. On the final night of competition Cooper capped off a stellar meet by touching the wall just under the qualifying time, by 0.01 of a second, in the Men’s 100m Backstroke to win gold.
Ben Armbruster of Bond is also one of our F-Teamers knocking on the door of the big dogs in the men’s sprint events. The boy from rural Queensland will swim on his first senior team at the Commonwealth Games, winning silver in the battle of the F-Teamers in the Men’s 50 Backstroke. Ben was also 5th in the much talked about Men’s 100m Butterfly, and 5th in the Men’s 50m Butterfly.
Our age-group swimmers are also on the verge of mixing it with the nation’s best, showing they have what it takes. Sprint sensation Jamie Jack tied for gold in the Men’s 18-20 years 50m Freestyle and Cameron Jordan won gold in the 18-20 100m Breaststroke and silver in the 50m event. South Australian Thomas Lightfoot took the gold in the age 400m IM final.
A big year is about to get even bigger for our F-Teamers jet-setting off to take on the world. Follow our socials to keep up to date with their preparations @funkytrunks.