Swim star headed across Tasman
• Bridport swimmer Ava Blundstone has been humbled by the local support she has received ahead of her first international competition.
July 26, 2023
By Rachel Williams
From North-Eastern Advertiser paper girl to New Zealand swimming competitor, Ava Blundstone is dreaming big as she hits the international stage for the first time.
Ava will soon cross the Tasman to compete in the New Zealand Short Course Championship before then heading to Sydney for the Australian All-Schools National Championships.
The 14-year-old from Bridport said she was looking forward to travelling overseas for the first time and competing against representatives from other countries.
“I am very excited about it. Swimming in a different pool in a different country against competition I don’t know will be an amazing experience,” she said.
“It’s a bit unknown but I think I will
do okay.”
Ava has been working hard in preparation, travelling to Launceston every day to train, given the Scottsdale Aquatic Centre is closed over winter.
“I have seven sessions in the pool a week swimming between four to six kilometres, then I have three to four dry-land sessions involving fitness, two gym sessions a week for weights and three short runs a week,” Ava said.
The Scottsdale High School grade eight student will join 16 Tasmanian swimmers aged between 13-18 at the New Zealand event, being held at the new Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatic Centre.
She will compete in the 100m freestyle event and hopefully make the team for one of the short course relays or medley relays in offer.
Her mum, Bec, said it was a big sacrifice for the family but worth it to see the personal and professional developments in her daughter.
“She has worked hard and has a beautiful technique but yes, it is a massive undertaking,” she said.
Ava’s New Zealand adventure will begin when she flies out on August 3 for a training camp and cultural experiences before the swimming meet from
August 8-12.
She jets back to Bridport briefly before the family heads to Sydney on August 19 for the national school meet, where she will compete over four days in the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and two relays.
“It is a big program – the most any one swimmer can do,” Mrs Blundstone said.
“A lot of kids go and only do one or two events, but she did really well at the State Long Course Championships in Hobart on the March Long Weekend, so she has been selected in a lot of events.”
Ava’s brother Zeke, who joins Ava in a paper round delivering Advertiser editions across Bridport each week, will contest the primary iteration of the Australian All-Schools in the 50m freestyle (for which he won the state title) as well as the 100m and 200m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly and two relays.
While the State has watched with excitement the results of our Olympic and World Champion Ariarne Titmus in Fukuoka, Japan, Ava says she doesn’t yet have the drive to achieve those heights.
“I am not quite sure yet,” she said.
While future ambition is decided, Ava is just grateful for the foundation she
has built.
“I’d like to thank Mayor Howard for his generous contribution toward my trip and everyone who has supported me throughout Bridport, Scottsdale and on Flinders Island by buying raffle tickets,” she said.
Added her proud mum and chief Uber driver: “I think we sold the most tickets in Tasmania for the raffle, so we are really grateful for the community’s support. It is mind-blowing how much people have wanted to support her.”