Championships on the Gold Coast was another World Record bonanza with a further 11 records broken across the age groups throughout the day.
In perfect weather, hundreds of international and Australian competitors gathered at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for Round 2 featuring Manikin Tow and Manikin Carry races before the Rescue Medley Relays.
Australian National Open Team member and Australian Lifeguard of the Year, Mariah Jones (Tweed Heads Coolangatta SLSC) has kicked off her World Lifesaving Championships campaign with three Gold Medals in Masters taking out the Line Throw, 200m Obstacle Relay and individual Manikin Carry thus far.
“This is my first Masters experience at a World Championships, but my first Worlds was actually in 2012 in Adelaide. This time I am competing in Masters, Interclub Opens and in National Teams for Australia.”
“I love the Masters environment, it’s very relaxed and inclusive. Everyone has fun and uplift and support each other even more than other categories and it’s something special which I love.”
Danish National Team member Ronnie Dalsgaard won the Gold Medal in the 50m Manikin Carry and said he is relishing the opportunity to compete down under for both his new home base team – Manly SLSC – and his country of birth Denmark.
“I moved to Australia three years ago and work for the Danish Foreign Ministry now. I am having a great time and using Masters as a bit of a warmup for the National competition. I competed at the NSW State Pool Rescue Championships also to make sure I had some times to submit for my National Team selection.”
“I did surf lifesaving back in Denmark – there are not as many people doing it back there so it’s fun having a club here where you can compete and train every day with a lot of good people. This is my sixth World Championships; the last one I did was also in Australia in 2018 with my first in 2010 in Egypt and my first Masters was in 2014. Every time I have gone to Worlds and have been able to do Masters I have done both. I think it is a good warmup to the National competition and there’s actually some really fast swimming in it!”
“In Denmark and in a lot of Europe there is a focus on pool rescue so that was how I got into the sport as a swimmer and then I started doing more and more in the ocean over here. We have a big Danish team coming over this time in both open and youth but not really enough for team events, so we are mainly focused on the pool competition and individual events. We are bringing out a really good swimmer in the Seniors so hopefully he will do well and in the Junior team we have strong swimmers as well, so we are hoping to get into the medals.”
WORLD RECORDS – Saturday 24 August 2024:
Lisa Ferguson – AUS, Tweed Heads Coolangatta SLSC Women’s 40-44 100m Manikin Tow with Fins
Francois Bockstaele – BEL, Brasschaatse Reddingsclub Men’s 55-59 100m Manikin Tow with Fins
Shirley Kemp – AUS, Tweed Heads Coolangata SLSC Women’s 75+ 100m Manikin Tow with Fins Women’s 75+ 50m Manikin Carry
Jennifer Whiteley – AUS, The Hills Swimming & Lifesaving Club Women’s 65-69 100m Manikin Tow with Fins Women’s 65-69 50m Manikin Carry
Joel Gitelson – USA, Los Angeles County Lifeguards Men’s 75+ 100m Manikin Tow with Fins Men’s 75+ 50m Manikin Carry
Jeanette Libera-Korner – GER, Luckenwalde Women’s 50-54 50m Manikin Carry
Sarah Windsor – AUS, Alexandra Headland SLSC Women’s 45-49 50m Manikin Carry
Gonzalo Chicharro Arderius – ESP, Vallecas SOS Men’s 70-74 50m Manikin Carry
Visit https://www.liveheats.com/ils for full results.
