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Queenstown youngster Sophie Gibson emerges as a shining star from last weekend’s South Island Swimming Champs after taking two sprint butterfly titles.
The 12-year-old smashed five seconds off her previous personal best time in the 100-metre fly to storm home in 1min12.90sec, as well as fending off other top swimmers in the 13-years-and-under category to win the 50m butterfly.
Sophie also claimed silver in the 100m and 200m backstroke events.
She was one of a 13-strong Queenstown Swimming Club squad taking part in the champs – which attracted more than 200 young athletes – held for the first time at Alpine Aqualand.
The club’s combined results saw it take ninth place out of 24 clubs attending.
Sophie also paired up with Queenstown’s Rebekah Paul, 13, to form half the 13-and-under Otago girls’ medley relay team, which won gold. Fellow Queenstown Swimming Club members Patrick Harris, 12, and Casey Strachan, 13, were part of the boys’ Otago medley relay team which also finished first. Patrick won bronze medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke. Ella Ferguson, 15, helped the 14-15 years Otago girls’ medley relay team take silver. “The kids really rose to the challenge,” Coach Frank Wylie says.
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