Monbulk swimming star Lachlan Mitchell is taking the next big strokes in his career, landing a prestigious scholarship to study Sports Science at Australia’s top rated university, Bond University on the Gold Coast.
Lachlan, 18, first dived into competitive swimming as a 10-year-old at Monbulk Aquatic Club, and went on to break 34 club records and compete at state level in a number of events including his specialty, backstroke.
He’s now relocated to the Gold Coast to begin study at Bond University and has his sights set on helping other swimmers and athletes reach the peak of their sport.
“I’m aiming to get into research so I can help elite athletes perform even better and, ultimately, while I would like to focus on swimming, I also want to work across a whole range of sports,” said Lachlan.
“As I’m already involved in coaching, I also want to continue to move down that path, so depending on what type of position I secure at the end of my course, I’d like to combine the two.”
Lachlan was selected from a competitive field of Victoria’s best and brightest students to be awarded Bond University’s Australia Day Scholarship, after delivering a speech on his ‘Vision for Australia’.
Under the scholarship, the Mountain District Christian School graduate will have 100 per cent of his tuition fees covered.
In between hitting the books, Lachlan has also frequented the pool in a coaching capacity, training nine to 11 year olds and masters, and supporting the senior coach with state and national level swimmers.
“I did some research on the internet and found Bond University had the sports science course that suited my career ambitions,” said Lachlan.
“It allows me to combine study with coaching on campus, which is giving me the experience needed to reach my goals.
“The small class sizes, beautiful campus and engaging lectures top it all off.”
Bond University’s Bachelor of Sports Science aims to produce graduates who fully understand high performance athletes, their coaches and the organisation and administration of elite sport.
Bond University is a private university that runs trimester study schedules – a contrast to public institutions that run two semesters annually. The accelerated degrees prepare students to enter the workforce earlier from a teaching environment that fosters smaller class sizes and exposure to some of Australia’s best learning resources.
Lachlan said he was settling in well to his new on-campus accommodation.
“I have been on swimming trips to the Gold Coast before, but never for more than a week at a time, so I’m finding the lifestyle here fantastic,” he said.
Bond University Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Stable said Lachlan exemplified the commitment and focus shown by the university’s scholarship holders.
“The rigorous application process is based on academic performance, leadership skills, co-curricular activities and a demonstrated commitment to community service,” he said.
“Lachlan ticks all these boxes, which is why he was selected from a competitive field of candidates from across Victoria as the sole recipient of this scholarship.”