Vikings go hard at National Championships 2023

Let’s Go Vikings, Let’s Go!!

Report by Kylie Lane, Club Captain

Tuggeranong Vikings 2023 Nationals Team

It was a relatively small team of Vikings that ventured to the Apple Isle, where the 2023 National Championships were held at the Doone Kennedy Aquatic Centre, Hobart 18-22 April 2023.

Tuggeranong Vikings were represented by a team of ten eager swimmers consisting of Katrina Burgess, Lesley De Lorenzo, Bex Dunn, Andreas Faulkenau, Kurt Gruber, Kylie Lane, Caz Makin, Elizabeth Merenda, Ann Reid and Anne Smyth.

The atmosphere at the pool was electrifying with enthusiastic chants and cheers from the Perth Superfins lifting other team's spirits in supporting their fellow teammates.

Our Vikings swimmers swam well with PB swims and club records being broken, and overall, the club finished in 16th position from a strong field of 76 clubs… an amazing effort from everyone.

Elizabeth Merenda and her support crew

Elizabeth bagged a swag of 11 Gold medals and was ranked as the third-highest female swimmer of the meet based on FINA points.

Medals also went to Kylie 2 silver, 1 bronze; Andreas 1 silver, 2 bronze; Anne 2 bronze; Bex  1 bronze; Katrina 1 bronze. 

Many club records were broken, some swimmers shaving hundredths of seconds! One highlight was Andreas’s 100m Butterfly which saw an almost second improvement since the MSNSW State Championships only a couple of weeks before Nationals.

Club record tallies were: Katrina 6; Andreas 4; Caz 2; Anne 1; Kurt 1; plus our Women’s 200+ Medley Relay: Elizabeth, Katrina, Kylie, Caz

Ann and Bex ready to take off in the
400m Individual Medley

The 400m Individual Medley event is not for the faint-hearted as it is regarded to be one of the hardest events in swimming because of its combination of every stroke, the endurance fitness required, and the perfect race strategy needed. Six Viking swimmers took part in this grueling event with Bex Dnn recording a massive 31-second PB. 

As always, a big thank you to Pete for volunteering his time at the medal table and Ann for her official duties.

Congratulations and thanks to all the officials and volunteers for assisting in running a seamlessly smooth National Championships.

It was fantastic to catch up with other like-minded swimmers from all around Australia with many new friendships formed and existing friendships strengthened. 

Until next time .... MSA National Championships 2024 will be held in Darwin, Northern Territory. Watch this space Vikings ... let’s do it!!