Australia’s National Teams have made history as combined Open and Youth back-to-back Lifesaving World Champions!
After five intense days of competition across beach, ocean and pool, Australia triumphed, edging out their Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand to secure the overall points to be named World Champions with the Kiwis in second place in both categories.
At Kurrawa Beach, the Open Teams were in a points battle for the ages with Australia and New Zealand swapping the lead time and time again over the past two days of Ocean and Beach events.
After New Zealand edged Australia by a solitary point in the Pool point score earlier in the week, the home nation could not afford to concede any ground after only leading the Black Fins by three points after one day at the beach.
New Zealand started the day in the best way possible with Olivia Corrin taking out the Women’s Board, however Naomi Scott and Lana Rogers ensured they kept the points rolling in with second and third place respectively. Corey Fletcher and Zach Morris then finished one-two in the men’s event ahead of New Zealand’s Joe Collins and Cory Taylor.
Scott then claimed the Women’s Ski before the men’s event produced one of the most exciting finishes of the championships. After Brit Piran Phillips led from the outset, a wave from behind saw a six-way fight to the flag which was won by South Africa’s Matthew Coetzee ahead of Fletcher and Collins.
Back-to-back wins in the Women’s Board Rescue and Men’s Rescue Tube Rescue put Australia in prime position with three events remaining.New Zealand were dominant in the Mixed Lifesaver Relay but it wasn’t enough to take the title.
Having co-captained a winning team at home, Mariah Jones said it was an experience she will never forget.
“Captaining a winning team is amazing – I’m so stoked about it,” she said. Everyone’s got their families here, everyone’s got their friends here.
“We always have people cheering us on and it’s always loud but it’s even better when you’ve got Australians and also strangers who are cheering you on as well – that’s been phenomenal.”
For Jones and co-captain Jake Smith, the moment was all the more special having been part of the Australian Lifesaving Team for nearly a decade.
“[Jake and I] are so proud to be on a winning campaign and also captaining it,” said Jones. “Our first big competition [together] was World Games in 2017, then we’ve done World Champs since – this is the third one for us – it’s great being in the team and especially with him and everyone else as well.
Jones played tribute to all newcomers on the team, including modern day superstar Lana Rogers who earned her first national cap this week.
“She’s doing so amazing at the moment and [being World Champion] is another thing to add to her resume,” said Jones “When you look at her on paper – insane – and obviously when you see her in action, even better. I love watching her race.”
Jake Smith echoed Jones’ comments, reflecting on the months which had passed since team selection through to lifting the trophy at Kurrawa.
“As a team it’s been an unreal journey and the people that are a part of it are the best of the best, and they’re sensational human beings as well which makes the whole experience that much better,” he said. “To finally be on Oz soil at the home of lifesaving here in Queensland, it’s an unreal feeling.
“You’ve got the crowd and the home team advantage – it’s massive and you can’t underplay that. Having your friends and family be able to be here and back you and support you, so for the other teams to get up and perform the way that they did on our home soil was unreal.”
At the pool, Australia’s Youth Team went into the Pool Rescue competition with a huge lead and despite a tough day in the water on Sunday with two disqualifications, they had a buffer to take out the World Title.
Australian Youth Team Head Coach Craig Holden was emotional after the conclusion of racing; “It’s pretty special actually. I am getting a bit emotional how’s that for you! Obviously its not a short campaign, we’ve probably been planning for this for 18 months so to see it all come together on home soil where we are probably a bit of pressure as everyone expects us to win especially those people who don’t understand how the points score works at World Championships is incredible.”
“It’s ok to have some of the best athletes in the world but you still have to deliver and you have to continue to deliver over five days of racing and that’s what I am most proud of with the team, that we kept on turning up and even got stronger and stronger. Even though today there were a couple of hiccups in the pool with a couple of disqualifications, we still maintained the momentum and support and camaraderie and it’s got us through so I couldn’t be more pleased.”
“Something that we put more emphasis on than anything else was [teamwork]. It’s not about individual brilliance, it’s about coming together as a team supporting each other as a team but also being available to do anything that you’re asked to do. The biggest challenge for a World Championships is the selection of the team so it’s picking the right mix of athletes that can give you the points that you want to score.”
“I am really proud not just of their performances but the way they behaved. We have a mantra – Green and Gold Standard so that’s everything that we do – probably more about what we do off the competition zone how we behave, how look after each other, how we treat the officials so really pleased with the way they have done that.”
Youth Captains Jasmine Rayward and Riley Brennan said the it was incredible to go back-to-back Champions after being a part of the Gold medal winning Youth Team together in Italy in 2022.
Jasmine Rayward who dominated the youth surf competitions to take seven from seven gold medals said the experience had been incredibly. “It’s a surreal feeling honestly to be back on this team representing my country and then on home soil as well, it’s pretty cool. [The surf results] gave our team confident but at the same time we know we’re good in the surf, but the pool is a little more tricky as other countries are really good in the pool as well so we needed to keep a cool head.”
“Our management and coaches do so much all the time, at night when we’re sleeping they’re setting things up for us for the next day and when we wake up they’re already at the beach or pool getting our stuff ready, getting our tents ready so it’s not just the athletes competing, it’s the time and effort our management put into it.”
Co-Captain Riley said he was stoked the team had come together in such a good way. “This means everything. It’s the sport we love so representing your country makes it even more special. It was amazing to have our friends and family to be here supporting us at home too.”
NATIONAL TEAMS OVERALL POINT SCORES
Open: Australia 907, New Zealand 873, France 629
Youth: Australia 973, New Zealand 774, France 759
