The last 12 months have seen Carramar Year 10 student, Lucas Ryan, achieving some extraordinary success in the pool, and he’s now on the cusp of an exciting new challenge in 2024!
It seems that Lucas has always been very much at home in the water.
“I first started swimming when I was nine years old, but I was about 13 when I realised that I really had the potential to swim competitively,” said Lucas.
“I’ve always loved being around the water, and now I have a lot of fun racing and seeing myself improve week to week.”
Of course, it takes discipline and consistency to turn natural skill into competition results.
“I train 6-8 times a week in the pool and started going to the gym this year. I do three sessions a week with one conditioning and two strength sessions. My diet wasn’t the best until mid-last year when I started working on it. Now I eat a lot of protein, carbs and focus on nutrients. Stuff that will fill me up and keep me energised.”
Lucas is very modest about his achievements, but we know that he had an especially successful 2023 State Swimming Championships. He entered seven events, including 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m backstroke, making the final for all events and placing second in the 50m backstroke. He also achieved two national qualifying times during the meet.
Right now, Lucas is focussing on the 2024 Age National Championships in April where he will be one of the youngest swimmers in his age group because his birthday is just two weeks before the event.
“I’m hoping to get into the top 15 in the 50m backstroke and potentially get into the final for the 50m freestyle.”
It’s not easy balancing school and elite level sport, and Lucas, like many other St Stephen’s School students, is part of the Elite Athlete Program, managed at Carramar by Adam Dwyer, Head of Health and Physical Education.
“We’re really happy to help athletes like Lucas to negotiate with their classroom teachers so they can keep up their rigorous training schedule without missing out on learning and assessments”, said Adam.
“It’s great to have the support of Mr Dwyer and my teachers so I can stay focussed on my swimming goals. Now that I’m preparing for the nationals I’m really pushing hard in training, asking my coach where I can improve and working on those areas,” said Lucas.
We wish Lucas every success in his preparation and especially for the national competition in April. We will definitely keep you updated on his achievements!