Last week, the 2024 Australian Open Water Swimming Championships were held on Western Australian foreshore, marking the event's return to the coastal community of Busselton. Over the course of four days, this championship drew both top and emerging talent in open water swimming from across Australia, showcasing their skills in a series of races.

The event, which started from the historic Busselton Jetty, featured competitions in 1.2km, 5km, and 10km distances. It attracted a total of 800 participants, including not only domestic athletes but also international swimmers from countries such as Japan, New Zealand, Seychelles, Italy, and Sri Lanka, with Australia making it a selection event for the 2024 World Championships.

Among the participants was MBS athlete Rosy Ryan, the 2024 QGSSSA Swimming Co-Captain, who entered the Women’s 10k race as a late contestant. Ryan, who had previously won a Gold Medal at the Brisbane Open Water Championships and a Silver Medal at the Queensland Open Water Championships, deliberated before deciding to tackle the challenging 10k event.

Ryan experienced heightened nerves prior to her race, a reaction that might have been influenced by the pressure of the event serving as a qualifier for this year’s World Junior Championships or possibly due to the presence of local marine life, such as stingrays and dolphins, near the competition area.

Rosy Ryan's performance in the championships was notable, as she finished 6th in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events. Her participation and achievements in these races are commendable, and we extend our congratulations to her for her accomplishments in the 2024 Australian Open Water Swimming Championships.