YOUNG swimming superstar Eliza Looby is looking to add to her state country medal collection at the All Junior Finals on March 16-17. The 10-year-old Stingray was still reeling from her most accomplished meet so far in her young career at the Ovens and Murray District Swimming Championships, winning six gold and one silver in her seven events to be crowned age champion. Eliza said she was very grateful of the support she received at her home meet, and enjoyed cheering on her team in other events. “I felt very confident in the majority of my races, especially in my 100m backstroke, I am very proud of myself,” she said. “I was happiest getting out of the 50m breaststroke because I had taken 0.49sec off my PB that I have been trying to break for a year.” Eliza was one of 20 Stingrays competing at the regionals, including sister Alex. Since starting swimming with club in the summer of 2019, Eliza said she has thoroughly enjoyed the tutelage under coach Gary Bowman and has embraced swimming as her favourite sport. “Swimming with the Stingrays is a great privilege to me because I can happily go there every training feeling supported and accepted,” she said. “Ever since I have been swimming at the club, everyone has been very supportive, letting me enjoy swimming and being kind and caring on dull days.” Eliza has been taking lessons in the water for as long as she can remember, taking an instant love to swimming. “While I am growing up, I will try to make to nationals and possibly make it on the Victorian state team, and race against the rest of Australia,” she said. “Even though it sounds like a big goal, I will work towards it. “Other than that, I will just see what happens in the coming years.” Eliza, along with 17 other Stingrays, will be moving on to the All Junior Finals starting on March 16 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. Some of the best up and coming swimmers in country Victoria from ages eight to 16 will be hitting the city to bring an end to the summer season. Eliza said she hoped to repeat past success at the junior finals, where she has won back to back golds in her favourite stroke, breaststroke, in 2022 and 2023 to go with freestyle gold and backstroke bronze. “I am hoping to do even better this year, maybe even more wins but down in Melbourne I am faced with country Victoria’s best 10-year-old swimmers, so it is very serious and competitive there,” she said. “Although we go to Melbourne for the swimming competition, it is also fun to walk around the city and have dinner at the Greek restaurant.”
