A Mackay school student has returned from Western Australia with a gold medal after succeeding at the 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Nate McKinnon, a year 9 student at Whitsunday Anglican School, finished first in the U14 Male division on the weekend of March 25-26.
The achievement is the result of many hours of study and training, making Nate the first national gold medallist from the Eimeo Surf Lifesaving Club and region.
Nate’s father grew up surf lifesaving at Maroochydore Surf Club and got Nate and his three siblings involved in the Eimeo Surf Lifesaving Club six years ago, when Nate was eight.
“The culture (at Eimeo is) really good,” Nate said.
“It’s a really positive and a nice atmosphere to be in.
“Their support’s been really good with helping us getting over there and supplying us with boards.”
Nate attends Nippers at Eimeo every Sunday, also training four times a week at the beach and eight times a week at Pat Wright Swim School with his coaches Pat Wright and Greg Bourne, as well as his mother.
He found success at recent branch trials which qualified him for states earlier in March.
Nate then qualified for Nationals, travelling to Western Australia and finishing first.
“It was really nice to go to a new environment with different features and waves and beaches,” he said.
The championships tested his all-round ability in theory, live patient assessment and physical races, involving board, swim, tube and sprint races.
When it comes to preparation, Nate’s approach is a simple one.
“I just go out there and give it my best shot,” he said.
He said the excitement was palpable between him and his father when he won gold.
“I was really excited and surprised at the same time,” Nate said.
“(Dad) was really happy when we learnt that I got gold.”
Nate hopes to continue surf lifesaving throughout his life, striving to do return to Mackay with gold again next year.
“I’d like to keep doing surf lifesaving as I get older,” he said.
Nate McKinnon won gold at the 2023 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. Photos supplied
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