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For Calrossy Anglican School Year 11 student Chelsea Smith, swimming has never just been about chasing times on a scoreboard. It has been about resilience, determination and learning how to keep showing up, even when the path has not always been easy.
Now, after years of dedication in the pool and long stints of dryland based training, Chelsea is preparing for one of the biggest opportunities of her swimming career — competing at the Commonwealth Games Trials in Sydney next month.
Chelsea secured her qualifying time in the 50m backstroke, swimming an impressive 31.94 seconds — not only fast enough to qualify for the Australian Age Championships, but also under the Open qualifying standard.
Her qualification was later officially verified, adding another remarkable chapter to a journey that began when she was just eight years old.
“I have been swimming competitively since the age of 8,” Chelsea said. “Over the years I have been involved with all of the swimming clubs in Tamworth, and each one has taught me something different. The skills and knowledge I've picked up along the way have all played a part in the success I've had in the pool.”
Like many sporting journeys, hers began with someone who recognised potential early.
“It all started with my learn to swim teacher, Chris Wallington, who thought I had potential and encouraged me to give swimming squad a try,” she said. “I took his advice, gave it a go, and it just grew from there.”
Chelsea’s achievements are even more impressive given the challenges she has faced this season. Limited pool access in Tamworth has meant adapting her training schedule significantly, relying heavily on dryland fitness work and travelling to Gunnedah whenever possible to train in the water.
“At the moment my training is mostly dryland based,” Chelsea explained. “I do CrossFit three times a week, which keeps my fitness and strength up, and I travel to Gunnedah as often as I can to get some time in the pool. It's not the most ideal setup, but I make the most of what's available to me.”
Balancing elite sport alongside school and work commitments has also required maturity and discipline beyond her years.
“Honestly, it's tiring!” she admitted. “Balancing training alongside school and work commitments takes a lot of organisation and energy, but I've learned to prioritise and push through on the days when it feels like a lot.”
Earlier this year, Chelsea competed at the Australian Age and Open Championships on the Gold Coast, where she raced alongside some of the world’s most recognised swimmers, including Olympians and world record holders.
“It was both amazing and overwhelming in equal measure,” she said. “Here I was, the only swimmer from my club and from a country town competing on that same stage. It was a lot to take in, but it was also something I felt incredibly proud of achieving.”
Among the athletes competing at the meet were Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O'Callaghan, Alexandria Perkins, Hannah Fredericks and Ingeborg Løyning.
While Chelsea’s recent success has been exciting, she is honest about the setbacks and personal challenges that shaped the road back to this moment. After first qualifying for Nationals in 2023, diagnosed health issues in 2024 disrupted her momentum and left her narrowly missing qualification the following year by just 0.2 seconds.
“After that near miss I did a lot of reflection, made a coaching change, and really had to work on falling in love with the sport again,” she said. “So, when it all came together, it meant a great deal.”
Now, as she prepares to compete at the Commonwealth Games Trials, Chelsea says her focus is not on pressure or expectations, but on appreciating how far she has come.
“More than anything, I just want to enjoy and embrace the moment,” she said. “Getting to that stage is an achievement in itself, and I intend to make the most of every second of it.”
Although Chelsea plans to shift her focus more heavily toward her studies in the years ahead, with ambitions of studying Medicine after her HSC, she says swimming has already taught her lessons that will stay with her for life.
“Swimming has given me so much though — resilience, dedication and determination are some of the qualities I'll carry with me through everything that comes next.”
Chelsea also acknowledged the many people who have supported her journey, particularly her current coach, Sheona, and her parents.
“She has shown me a great deal, both in and out of the pool,” Chelsea said of her coach. “And, of course, my parents have been there through all of it, supporting me every step of the way.”
The entire Calrossy community congratulates Chelsea on this outstanding achievement and wishes her all the best as she takes to the blocks at the Commonwealth Games Trials in June.
