Rising swimming star Jemima Horwood is off to Indianapolis for the FINA junior world championships later this month.
Camera IconRising swimming star Jemima Horwood is off to Indianapolis for the FINA junior world championships later this month. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Swimming: Swanbourne’s Jemima Horwood off to FINA world championships

Bryce LuffWestern Suburbs Weekly

FOR someone who did not enjoy the sport as a youngster, Swanbourne swimming starlet Jemima Horwood has set a nice path for herself.

Still only 15, the sprint star will wear the green and gold at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championship in Indianapolis later this month.

But an annoying ailment about 10 years ago makes her rise to the Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Swimming Champion that bit more special.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“I’ve been swimming since the age of 11,” she said.

“I did some training at school and mum thought I was alright, so she booked me some lessons.

“But I hated it when I was younger because I got a really bad ear infection when I was four or five.

“Mum had more lessons booked but she pulled me out because I didn’t want to be there.”

The UWA West Coast Swimming Club member made her first Australian Age Swimming Championships final in Adelaide in 2016.

She did not snag a medal but rebounded 12 months later in Queensland by winning gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

It put her on course for the World Junior Swimming Championships this month.

To prepare for the meet, the teenager travelled to Canberra in July with a squad of 30 emerging stars.

Jemima, picked in the 4×100 freestyle team, said she wanted to use the trip to build towards a potential Olympic berth in 2020.

“I think it’s the dream of every swimmer to win an Olympic gold,” she said.

“Maybe in 2020. I’d like to at least get close to making the Olympics in any of the sprints.”

MORE: National Missing Persons Week: Rigby Fielding’s family looking for answers

MORE: The WA couple touted as the ones to beat in The Block 2017

MORE: E-Waste collection on August 5