Home Grown: Future Olympians – Tora Delac

Long before the medals, the podiums and the recognition, an Olympic dream is built through thousands of hours of training when very few people are watching.  

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For 15-year-old Whitsunday swimmer Tora Delac, that means early mornings, countless laps and years of commitment in the pool.  

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Tora is the third young athlete featured in Whitsunday Regional Council’s Home Grown: Future Olympians series, showcasing talented young Whitsunday athletes chasing big sporting dreams from right here in our region.  

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Tora began swimming with the Cannonvale Cannons and was competing at regional meets by the age of nine.  

At just 10, she competed at her first Queensland State Championships and has continued to progress through the swimming ranks ever since.  

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Along the way, Tora has celebrated plenty of milestones – from breaking the 30-second barrier in both the 50-metre freestyle and butterfly to achieving multiple top-10 placings at Queensland State Championships.  

In 2024, she qualified for her first Australian Age Championships and has now competed at the national event three times.

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Her latest achievement will see her head to Sydney in October after qualifying for the Australian Open Short Course Championships, another major step in a sporting journey that started in a local Whitsunday pool.  

Tora has also been awarded a Hancock Prospecting Patron Scholarship – Olympic Pathways, while continuing to be a leader and positive role model for younger swimmers at her club.  

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Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said Tora’s story showed what could be achieved through commitment, discipline and the support of local sporting communities.  

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“Tora is only 15, but she has already spent years getting up early, diving into the pool and doing the hard work that happens well before anyone starts talking about medals,” Mayor Collins said.  

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“That commitment has taken her from swimming locally with the Cannonvale Cannons to competing at State and National Championships, and now qualifying for an Australian Open event.  

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“She should be incredibly proud of what she has achieved, but what I also love about Tora’s story is that she hasn’t forgotten where it started and is already helping and encouraging younger swimmers coming through behind her.”  

Mayor Collins said the Home Grown: Future Olympians series was about celebrating talented young athletes while highlighting the importance of creating sporting opportunities and pathways closer to home.  

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“We know regional kids have the talent, determination and work ethic to compete with the best anywhere in Australia.  

“Our job is to keep advocating for the facilities, investment and opportunities that give them every chance to do that without believing they have to leave the Whitsundays to chase a big dream.  

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“That is a big part of the legacy we want from the Whitsundays becoming the home of Olympic and Paralympic Sailing in 2032.  

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“It’s not simply about what happens during the Games. It’s about using that opportunity to inspire young people, strengthen local sport and leave better facilities and pathways for the generations coming behind them.”  

Tora’s story is the third profile in Council’s Home Grown: Future Olympians campaign, following young Whitsunday sailors Reid and Rory Martin and footballer Lilliana Knight.  

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The series celebrates the athletes as well as the families, coaches, volunteers and local sporting clubs helping young Whitsunday talent pursue their dreams.  

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Because Olympic and Paralympic dreams don't start on the podium.  

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They start right here in the Whitsundays.  

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