FAST Aquatic Centre

At just 14 years old, Mackenzie Grimes is making big waves in the swimming pool. Mackenzie recently broke the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke records at the Darling Downs Swimming trials. ‘I also broke the 50m backstroke record at our school swimming carnival and the 50m backstroke record at the Toowoomba Secondary School Swimming carnival,’ Mackenzie said. Her love for swimming started at a young age when she began taking lessons at her local swimming pool. As she grew older, she developed a passion for backstroke. ‘I love all swimming disciplines, but backstroke is by far my favourite because I feel really comfortable doing it and I’ve achieved some great results with it.’ One of Mackenzie’s biggest inspirations is Kaylee McKeown, who won gold in the backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics. Watching Kaylee compete and achieve such success has motivated Mackenzie to work even harder towards her own goals, she says. Her training schedule is rigorous, with eight sessions a week, but she remains dedicated and committed to achieving her dreams. Recently, Mackenzie was presented with Lisa Curry’s daughter’s swimsuit, which she says was a touching gesture and a symbol of the support she has received from the swimming community. ‘I got quite emotional when Lisa presented me with the swimsuit. I wasn’t expecting it at all, and it would have been so sad for her to give it away. ‘It is currently hanging in my wardrobe, but we plan to have it framed so I can hang it on my wall.’ Mackenzie’s ultimate goal is to make it to the top three at nationals, and she is determined to make it happen. She knows she has to put in a lot of hard work and effort but is confident in her abilities and is excited about what the future holds. ‘I’m hoping that I can one day represent Australia,’ she says.