Templar’s Olympics path

By Marc McGowan
PAKENHAM Upper swimming sensation Jake Templar hopes Victorian selection for the School Sport Australia championships is the next step in eventually making the Olympics.
The 11-year-old Beaconhills College student claimed a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke at the Victorian Primary School Sports Association Swimming Championships at MSAC on 27 April.
That performance booked Templar a spot in the state team alongside 49 others for the national schools event in Perth from 12 to 18 September.
Fellow Casey TigerSharks swimmers Jake Duggan, Arnon Lodder and Talia Banh also made the Victorian squad. The top two placed athletes in the breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke disciplines and fastest three freestyle competitors in each age group qualified.
Templar has enjoyed plenty of success in his three years in the pool and won his second successive 50m breaststroke title at the Metro All-Junior Finals last month.
“When I first started doing competition swimming my best event was freestyle, but I found I was good at breaststroke,” he said.
“It’s a really fun sport and I just enjoy going through the water. I really want to make it to the Olympics.”
Templar trains up to five times a week under TigerSharks coaches Ben Hiddlestone and James Fox and is sometimes in the pool at 4.30am.
“They’re really good coaches. They can sometimes be grumpy in the mornings, but they’re good,” he said.
“You just go to bed early that night and you get used to the early mornings.”
Templar made state level in cross-country running last year and is aiming to repeat the feat this week.
Hiddlestone believes Templar is one of the club’s brightest prospects.
“It’s the very first team you can represent your state on and it’s something I did when I was in grade six and I went on to win medals at nationals,” Hiddlestone said.
“It’s a really great first step and James has done a fantastic job with him.”
He also pulled on the boots for Officer Junior Football Club in 2008.
Templar’s father, Anthony, who was a talented swimmer in his youth, is understandably thrilled with his son’s achievements.
“I’m terrifically proud, who wouldn’t be?” he beamed.
“He’s got the greatest opportunity now to step up another level and compete at a national level.
“It will give him a great overview as to where he sits nationally.”
Templar’s older sister, Natalie, 13, used to swim competitively before concentrating on dancing, while he also has a younger brother, Sam, 3.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring Templar for his trip to Perth, the Gazette can be contacted on 5945 0666.