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Great job George!! Photo supplied
Whitsunday Swimming Club’s rising para-swimming talent, George Rush, has delivered a breakthrough performance at the 2026 Australian MC Age Championships, recording multiple personal bests and climbing to second in Australia in his age group for the 400m freestyle.
Competing at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre against the country’s top junior multi-class athletes, the 13-year-old showcased significant improvement across several events, underlining his rapid development on the national stage.
George’s standout swim came in the boys’ 400m freestyle, where he slashed 10.7 seconds off his previous best time. The result not only highlighted his endurance and race strategy but also propelled him to No. 2 in Australia for 13-year-old multi-class swimmers in the event.
George continued his strong form in the 50m freestyle, trimming 0.39 seconds from his personal best. George achieved further with a 6.08 second PB in the 200m individual medley.
Across the three-day championship, George competed in both heats and finals for 5 of his 6 nominated events - 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke and 200IM, gaining valuable experience against elite-level competition while pushing his own limits. George also qualified for the 200m Freestyle, George Placed 14th overall in the 200m Free and recorded another massive personal best time.
The Australian MC Age Championships serve as a key pathway for emerging para-athletes, with many participants aiming to progress to represent Australia on the international stage. For George, the combination of personal bests and a top two national ranking signals a significant step forward in his swimming journey.
With the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games drawing closer, performances like these are helping to shape the next generation of Australian talent—and George Rush is quickly establishing himself as one to watch.
Contributed with thanks to the Whitsunday Swimming Club
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