Bunbury Swimmers Club swimmers dive head first into 2021 Hancock Prospecting Swim Championships

Out of 31 events, the swimmers had a 90 per cent personal best success rate, with one Bunbury swimmer, 15-year-old Alex Saffy, taking out an unofficial world record.

The Mail spoke to Saffy in June before he headed to the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Having been diagnosed with dyskinetic cerebral palsy and myotonic dystrophy (muscle weakness) some four years ago, Saffy was successful in gaining selection into the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, but due to not currently having an international swimming classification, was unable to attend.

During the trials for the Paralympics, Saffy achieved a personal best in all four of his heats, ranking unofficially as top three in the world for the 100 metre butterfly.

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At the 2021 Hancock Prospecting Swim Championships, Saffy took out eight personal bests and nine gold medals for all nine heats he competed in.

He received gold for the 'able bodied' 200 butterfly, taking out the unofficial world record and the official Australian record for the best time in the 200 butterfly, in two minutes and ten seconds.

Saffy said his cerebral palsy caused involuntary movements in his muscles, which led to him transitioning from land to water sports.

"I tried to play land sports but I really struggled, so I quit everything and switched to swimming,"

"Achieving what I have is a pretty good feeling and I hope it can inspire others and show them that you can do things even if you have a disability," Saffy said.

Thirteen-year-old Rebecca Camm achieved personal bests in both the 200 and 400 metre freestyle, along with 14-year-old Abbey East who returned to swimming after six months off, picking up a personal best of 29 seconds in the 50 metre freestyle.

Fourteen-year-old Ingrid Blandford competed in the 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 metre freestyle heats, taking out all her personal bests and receiving bronze medals for the 400, 800 and 1500.

Blandford said swimming was a good way to challenge yourself and also a way to 'clear your head'.

"When you're in the water you can just zone out and focus on your skills. It's a combination in the arms, legs, diving and turning. It's so great."

Fifteen-year-old Joel Davies took out all his personal best times in 50 and 100 metre freestyle, 100 and 200 metre breaststroke and 200 metre individual medley.

He also received two bronze medals for the 100 metre breastroke and 200 metre individual medley, as well as silver for the 200 metre breastroke.

Davies said it was his first time racing since returning to swimming from a eight month break.

"I was pretty unfit when I came back, but it got easier over time,"

"Swimming can be hard for the amount of training you have to do, but the racing part and the social aspect of the sport is great," Davies said.

Seventeen-year-old Kaiden Richings (not pictured) also competed in eight events, taking out six personal bests and three gold medals for the 200 metre butterfly and 800 and 1500 metre freestlye, and two silver medals for the 400 metre freestyle and 400 metre individual medley.

Richings also attended the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials in June with Saffy, competing in the 1500 metre freestyle.

Bunbury Swimming Club Assistant Coach Martin Van Rooyen said it was a great achievement for the club to have all six swimmers achieve their personal best times.

"It's pretty special and it just shows their character and resilience,"

"They had a short preparation time for the meet, so to go in and do what they did is great. It's not every day that you have swimmers achieve so much," Van Rooyen said.

The Bunbury Swimming Club will have 11 swimmers compete at the 2021 Swimming West Australian Junior Short Course Championships at HBF Stadium in Perth on September 4 and 5.