Two stars of Footscray’s Golden Fish synchronised swimming club hope to make a splash on the international stage at the World Championships in Budapest in July.
Emily Rogers and Hannah Cross, members of Australia’s 2016 Olympic team, were selected for the 2017 national team following the Hancock Prospecting Synchronised Swimming Australian Championships and team trials held in Melbourne at Easter.
Rogers, 19, has been a familiar face on the national team since she was 15, two years after first dipping her toe into the sport.
“Synchronised swimming offers amazing opportunities to develop skills and go on to compete at national and international levels,” she said. “It’s a great sport with a fusion of swimming, dance and gymnastics.”
The Golden Fish club’s reputation for nurturing young talent was again at the fore when Anastasia Kusmawan collected a silver medal for her under-12 solo routine and the under-12 team won bronze.
Duet pair Kelsey Chatterton and Eliza Skeels also picked up bronze, with the Golden Fish junior and open combo teams bringing home silver and bronze.
Head coach Anna Nepatocheva said Kusmawan is a stand-out performer with a big future ahead of her.
“Anastasia is one of our next generation of exciting synchronised swimmers,” she said.
“If she continues to enjoy her sport we will definitely be watching her at the Olympic Games.”
Nepatocheva said that while the Golden Fish club might be making its mark at the elite level, it welcomed people of all ages and abilities.
