Australia names Commonwealth Youth Games swim team

Steve Larkin | May 26, 2023

Fifteen-year-old Mikayla Bird is among a 10-strong batch of emerging Australian swimmers to contest the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Bird dominated last month’s national age championships, winning three golds and a silver medal.

Zoe Ammundsen, who was another standout at the age championships with two gold, a silver and bronze medal, is also on the Australian team for the August 6-9 youth Games in Couva, Trinidad.

The 10 swimmers will follow in the proverbial footsteps of current Olympian Ariarne Titmus in competing at a Commonwealth Youth Games.

“The Commonwealth Youth Games is an exceptional way for our young athletes to gain crucial experience on the international stage,” Swimming Australia’s general manager of performance pathways, Gary Barclay, said.

“The meet provides these athletes with an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best young athletes across the world.

“And it is great recognition of how they have performed in the pool to date.”

Australia’s youth swim team:

Hannah Allen (Queensland), Zoe Ammundsen (Queensland), Jye Bennion (Queensland), Mikayla Bird (Queensland), Braden Fyneman (Western Australia), Samuel Higgs (NSW), Tommy Lane (Victoria), Clancy Luscombe (South Australia), Inez Miller (Western Australia), Poppy Stephen (Queensland).