Inspired by his teammates’ gold rush at the Commonwealth Games, Josh Collett has bagged some bling a little closer to home.
The Hancock Prospecting Short Course Championships in Brisbane provided the perfect playground for Bond University Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Performance student Collett to showcase his world-class skills.
Traditionally a breaststroker, Collett expanded his program at the meet, dominating the men’s 100m medley, his 52.59 nearly two seconds quicker than his closest rival.
Further proving his versatility, the Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholar followed up with silvers in the men’s 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.
“Racing events outside of breaststroke is something I've been thinking about doing for a while,” Collett said.
“I didn’t want to detract the focus from breaststroke in training leading in, but it was a really good chance to expand myself.
“It’s my belief that to be a good swimmer, you've got to be able to do it all – and that includes training all four strokes.
“You don't have to be the best at everything, but it allows you to really open up and get the most out of yourself.”
In the 100m breaststroke, Collett and fellow Bull Shark Gideon Byrnes shared the top step of the podium after touching the wall at exactly the same time.
The shared gold medal effort had shades of teammate Ben Armbruster’s efforts in tying for gold with Kyle Chalmers in the 50m butterfly in Glasgow. It was a race Collett watched keenly from home.
“I'm super proud of Flynn and Ben, just knowing how much effort they put in at training each day,” Collet said.
“They’re really focused on their goals, and it really came to fruition for both of them at the Commonwealth Games.
“It's inspiring watching anyone swim fast, but seeing your own crew do it is even better.
Collett entered the meet on a high after receiving an AIS Athlete Education Scholarship to help balance study with elite sport.
“It's so good to keep life ticking over and set something up for after as your sporting career only lasts so long,” Collett said.
“I'm in such a fortunate position - I can study part time and keep swimming as my main focus while I'm in my 20’s, but still have something to fall back on post.”
“Bond has really helped me with the balancing act I can ramp up my study or lessen the load based on the swimming calendar.
“I can get the most out of my academics by doing it a bit slower - it means I don’t need to compromise training.”
In what was a golden day out for the Bull Sharks, Hancock Prospecting Scholars Jesse Coleman and Campbell Wilson-Moran took the 1-2 in the men’s 100m freestyle.
Bachelor of Health Sciences student Emma Doherty showed her versatility in claiming the women’s 100m IM ahead of teammate Claudia Fydler, with Fydler also bagging a silver and bronze in the women’s 100m and 50m butterfly respectively.
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Sport Leadership Scholars Kyla Brown and Tilly King claimed the quinella while Hancock Prospecting Scholar Ainsley Trotter showed her class with a bronze in the women’s 50m backstroke.
Collett believes there’s something in the water for Chris Mooney’s Bull Sharks.
“Things have been brewing for a few years and now that we're getting older, we're getting much more competitive on the open level.
“We’ve got a really great trajectory going forward to really tap into our potential and it’s only going to get better.
“LA 2028 and is in the forefront of everyone's minds now.”