What’s happening?
Rocky City Swimming Club has opened 2026 with a standout run across national and state championships, elite development programs, and representative selections.
Across the Australia Day long weekend, Rocky City swimmers were competing on multiple fronts. Athletes raced at the National Open Water Championships in Western Australia and the Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton, while others attended a Swimming Australia high-performance clinic at the Australian Institute of Sport.
The results from these events highlighted the depth of the regional club, with a significant share of swimmers earning selection in the Queensland Country representative team.
Why it matters
The performances underline how a regional swimming club can compete with, and outperform, many larger metropolitan programs. Rocky City’s results show the strength of its development pathways and the impact of sustained training and commitment.
Local impact
Rockhampton swimmers delivered strong results both at home and on the national stage. The club’s success reflects years of investment by athletes, families, coaches, and local supporters, while reinforcing Central Queensland’s presence in elite swimming.
By the numbers
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Rocky City finished 8th overall in Australia at the 2026 National Open Water Championships and was crowned the top country club at the event, held from 22 to 25 January at Koombana Bay in Bunbury.
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A squad of nine swimmers travelled more than 7,000 kilometres round-trip to compete against Australia’s leading metropolitan programs.
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At the Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton from 23 to 25 January, Rocky City placed second overall, collecting 41 gold, 38 silver, and 14 bronze medals.
Zoom in
At the National Open Water Championships, Rocky City swimmers delivered multiple medal winning performances.
Ashton Rogers claimed two Australian silver medals in the 17 years 7.5 kilometre and 5 kilometre events. Amelie Smith secured Australian silver in the 18-year 5 kilometre and bronze in the 18 years 10 kilometre. Mackenzie Wyeth earned Australian bronze in the 15 years 5 kilometre.
Wyeth also teamed with Jordan Hodgetts, Isla Burridge, and Jake Hodgetts to win Australian bronze in the 14 to 15 years 4 by 1,500 metre relay.
Additional top ten national finishes included Isla Burridge placing sixth in the 14 years 5 kilometre, Flynn Wyeth eighth in the same event, and Layne Hodgetts eighth in the 18 years 10 kilometre.
Zoom out
At the same time, other Rocky City swimmers were competing at the inaugural Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton. Despite the squad being split across events, the club finished second overall behind the larger Fraser Coast team.
Top individual performers included Rana Basnet with 12 gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. Peyton Watson collected one gold, three silver, and two bronze. Cooper Love finished with three gold and three silver, while Oliver Lau secured four gold and six silver. Jack Williams added four gold and one bronze, and Jaime Liu earned four gold and one silver.
Further highlighting the club’s pathway strength, Annaliese Matthews was selected to attend the 2026 Swimming Australia NextGen Butterfly Clinic at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
What to look for next?
Rocky City swimmers Lachlan Kuss, Cooper Love, Mackenzie Wyeth, and Annaliese Matthews have been selected in the Queensland Country Swimming Team. They will compete at the New South Wales Country Championships from 20 to 22 February.
Head coach Shane Kingston said the results reflected both preparation and depth across the club.
“We had eight swimmers who qualified for both the National Open Water Championships and the Queensland Country Championships and had to make tough decisions about where to compete. Mackenzie Wyeth was also invited to attend the AIS butterfly clinic at the same time,” he said.
“To perform this well across championships, a national clinic and representative selection all at once is a testament to the depth of our club.”
“The squad have been putting in the big kilometres since the new year, averaging up to 70 kilometres per week, and the results showed. It goes to show what a country swimming club can achieve.”
The national and state campaigns were supported by the Keppel Islands Swimming Association, whose assistance continues to help Central Queensland swimmers compete in open water swimming. The Australian Open Water Championships have been held in Western Australia for the past four years, creating significant travel costs for the club and families.
