By JARROD POTTER
A VICTORIAN record is proudly owned by Sandhurst powerhouse swimmer Declan Forster – flying along to a personal best in the 100-metre butterfly at the Victorian Short Course Swimming Championships last month.
Forster, 15, has improved rapidly since moving to Haileybury Waterlions Swimming Club when his family moved down to metropolitan Melbourne from Mildura.
On top of the 100m butterfly record – now set at 55.14 for the under-15 boys, Forster also claimed the 50m butterfly and 200m freestyle at the championships, with silver medals in the 50/100m freestyle.
“Probably have to swim the 100 fly as that’s the one I did the best in, but I don’t mind the 200 free and the 100 free,” Forster said.
“The 100 fly as I set the record for that one – it feels good – feels like I’m on the right track and it was a great win.
“Broke it by about .2 of a second – the 200 free was great too as it was the last swim of the meet and I raced it well.”
Forster’s stellar results earned his place in the Victoria short course swim team and he hopes to post some strong times for the state team before aiming for long course Age nationals later this year.
“Long course I wouldn’t mind medalling at nationals,” Forster said.
“Last year I made my first final in the 100 free and the 100 back, so if I could move up a little bit and get onto the podium that would be a good achievement for me.
“Getting into the Victorian team makes me feel proud – I’m happy to be involved in it,” he said.
“I was part of it last year and I’m happy to be there.”
