Bundaberg's Isaac Cooper broke an Australian record on his way to qualifying for the Australian Dolphins FINA World Championships and Commonwealth Games teams.
The selection honours come after the weekend's 2022 Australian Swimming Championships in which Isaac dominated and broke a new national record.
The strong showing saw him selected for the Australian Dolphins swim team to take to the pool in the upcoming FINA World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
The young gun recorded a time of 24.44 in the 50 metres backstroke at the weekend, making him the youngest current record holder in the nation.
His swim beat the 2014 record, held by Ben Treffers, by .10 seconds.
He also received gold in 100 metres backstroke, silver in 50 metres butterfly and bronze in 50 metres freestyle at the event.
The 18-year-old, who originally trained at Bundaberg Swim Academy, is one of 39 athletes to be chosen to represent Australia as part of the Dolphins swim team and will head to Budapest for next month's World Championships meet.
Swimming Australia CEO Eugénie Buckley congratulated the selected athletes, expressing her pride on behalf of the broader swimming community.
“Our team’s Olympic campaign in Tokyo inspired a nation and from the performances we’ve witnessed this week at trials it’s clear how driven our athletes are to build on that success,” Buckley said.
“These World Championships are the first step on the path to Paris and I have no doubt our Dolphins will continue to set the benchmark on that journey.
“It’s wonderful to see a mixture of our established leaders, and the joy of those experiencing selection on an Australian team for the first time and I’m sure each and every athlete will do us proud.”
The Dolphins will be led by Head Coach Rohan Taylor alongside team coaches and support staff.
Isaac adds Commonwealth Games to the list
To add one more feather to his cap, Isaac has also been selected as one of 46 athletes to compete as part of the Australian Commonwealth Games team in Birmingham.
These athletes will join their para swimming teammates in an integrated swim team of 76 for the Birmingham Games.
Buckley said the selected Dolphins would add their own chapter to Australian swimming’s rich history at the games.
“Swimming is synonymous with the success of Australian teams at the Commonwealth Games and this team will undoubtedly add to that legacy in Birmingham,” Buckley said.
“It remains a special competition for our athletes, particularly the chance to compete with their para swimming teammates in our country’s colours and we are immensely proud to see all of our swimmers and coaches take that opportunity with both hands.”
The Commonwealth Games team will also be led by Head Coach Rohan Taylor.
From Bundy to the world: Isaac making waves
Last year Isaac Cooper made headlines after he was selected to compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
He was just 17 years old at the time and came home with a bronze medal after competing in the 4×100 metre mixed medley relay.
Upon his return, Isaac was welcomed home at a special community event where he received Young Citizen of the Year in Bundaberg Regional Council's 2022 Australia Day Awards.
In accepting the Australia Day award honour, he spoke about his goals for the future.
“I think that for me, my journey's only just begun and so I'm really keen to see how much I can push myself and just to prove to myself that there are no limits,” he said.
“I'm a very competitive person, and so I just I want to race, and I want to go to another Olympics and I want to go to Worlds to see what I can do against the best out there.
“I want to show the world what I can do.”
