This month the Kinross College student’s hard work and dedication to her sport was recognised at the State Championships, where she and fellow athlete Deborah Tsai received the Marsea Nelson Shield.
West Coast Splash Synchronised Swimming Club head coach Briana Preiss said Erin displayed all the qualities a coach looked for in an athlete.
“She never misses a training session, continually puts her hand up for fundraising, come and try events and anything more the club organises,” she said.
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READ NOW“Even though Erin is not one of the oldest swimmers in the club, she is an outstanding role model.
“She loves her sport and always gives 100 per cent.”
Club committee member Kathryn Maiden said synchronised swimming combined “the flexibility and strength of a gymnast, the stamina of a runner, the grace of a ballet dancer – and the ability to do it all at the same time – without breathing”.
“Erin and her teammates train for around 17 hours each week over six sessions – a massive effort for any high school student,” she said.
“Twice a week Erin and her dedicated parents rise at 4am, to be at the pool for 5.30am and over the week clock up an average weekly mileage of around 475km travelling to and from training.”
Erin will be doing three routines – a Bollywood inspired duet and two team routines – at the National Synchronised Swimming Championships at HBF Stadium in April 11 and 12.
West Coast Splash members Ruby Maiden (Iluka), Nayeli Van Amersfoort (Greenwood), Erin O’Mahony (Two Rocks), Emily Holloway (Mindarie), Beth Morley (Butler), Eve Wakeb (Ocean Reef), Zayan Hansrod (Wanneroo), Emma Wakeb (Ocean Reef) and Joanne Craigue (Joondalup) Zooe Hewson (Wembley), Jessica Eidne (Cottesloe), Michelle Ammon (Dalkeith), Gabbi Percic (Shenton Park) and Emma Levett (Cottesloe) will also compete at the Nationals.