Golden West Dolphins swimmer Ella Larkman is at her most comfortable in the water.
After watching her sister and competitive swimmer Taya Larkman in the pool, the eight-year-old became inspired to take up the sport.
The past year has seen Larkman go from enthusiastic youngster to swimming champion.
Guided by her passion and enthusiasm, Larkman has balanced school studies with three training sessions per week.
She and her fellow Golden West Dolphins train rigorously in preparation for competitions around Western Australia.
Within the past 12 months, she has won 53 medals from a range of short-course and long-course events.
Golden West Dolphins junior coach, and Larkman’s father, David Larkman said the family was immensely proud of her achievements.
“After sitting in the grandstand for hours watching her sister swim, she decided she would like to have a go,” he said.
“She’s someone who did it because she was bored and has now had an amazing amount of success in a short period of time.”
Larkman has gone on to break ten Golden West Dolphins’ records, one of which went all the way back to 2002.
The 2018 Country Pennants in Mandurah – the largest swim meet on the WA calendar – was particularly special for the young swimmer and the Golden West Dolphins.
She collected two silver and two bronze medals in the March event.
With her wins adding to Golden West Dolphins’s tally, the team picked up 41 medals overall.
At the Golden West Dolphins’ presentation event, she also received the Most Outstanding Junior Swimmer award.
In April, Larkman went up against some of WA’s best during the Hancock Prospecting Junior Long-Course Championships.
She placed fourth in the 100-metre breaststroke before winning gold in the 50m breaststroke.
Her victory made for Golden West Dolphins’s first ever gold medal in the competition.
Larkman will hit the pool this weekend for the Geraldton Short Course Classic.
She now has her sights set on winning Olympic gold in the not-too-distant future.
The swimmer encouraged those interested in the sport to jump in.
“Join a club, swim to enjoy it, and have fun,” she said.
The Golden West Dolphins Club is run completely by volunteers and trains at Leschenault Leisure Centre.
For more information visit goldenwestdolphins.org.au/ or the Golden West Dolphins Swimming Club’s Facebook page.
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