SWIMMING
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Maddi Elliott has finished the Australian Swimming Championships with a spot on the national team for the world titles, four medals and another international record.
The 14-year-old from Gillieston Heights achieved this during the eight-day meet in Adelaide, which finished on Friday.
Elliott, who has cerebral palsy, was then one of 19 swimmers named to represent Australia at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships in Canada later this year.
This followed her performances across 10 races, which included a gold medal and world record in the S8 women’s 50 metre freestyle.
It was her time of 30.28 seconds in the April 27 final, which not only broke the world mark of 30.69s she set two weeks earlier at the Australian Age Multi Class Championships held at the same venue, but also sealed her spot in the team for Montreal.
“I was happy to be named in the [Australian] team [for the world championships],” the 2012 Maitland Sportsperson of the Year said.
“But I kind of knew after the 50m freestyle because I finished first and I had a world record.”
Elliott, Australia’s youngest Paralympic medallist following last year’s showing in London, has yet to be told exactly what events she will be part of at her maiden world championships outside of the 50m freestyle.
But, not including relays, the 100m freestyle and both backstroke distances, the 50 and 100 metres, could be on the radar after collecting medals in all of these events at the national open carnival.
The Novocastrian Swimming Club member scored silver in the 50m backstroke (37.19) and bronze in the longer forms of freestyle (1:06.96) and backstroke (1:19.84).
She produced personal best times in all four events.
She also made finals in five other disciplines (50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle) but failed in the 100m breaststroke.
Elliott remains in the South Australian capital for an orientation camp with the national swim team.
She returns home tomorrow.
The IPC World Championships will be held in Montreal from August 12 to 18.
In the able-bodied section, former Newcastle swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes was one of 43 athletes named in the Australian squad for the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona.
The 21-year-old Olympic finalist gained individual swims in the 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley after securing national titles in both events, which also included an Australian and Commonwealth record in the later.