In the grind of her final year of high school, Bull Sharks swimmer Ainsley Trotter came close to hanging up her cap and goggles for good.
Less than 12 months later, in her first year of university, she’s eyeing off a Commonwealth Games berth after earning a breakthrough gold medal at the Junior World Aquatics Championships in Romania.
The about-face came in the tick under 30 seconds it took Trotter to win Australia’s only gold medal of the meet.
Struggling with motivation and bogged down by the workload she put into chasing the ATAR needed to study journalism, the 18-year-old began to seriously question whether she truly wanted to continue her swimming career.
But with Advance Australia Fair blaring from the speakers at the Otopeni Aquatics Complex, those doubts were squashed by the weight of the gold medal that was draped around her neck after victory in the 50m backstroke.
“Romania was a great experience. It was my first Australian team so it was super exciting,” Trotter said.
“I was losing motivation for swimming (and) thinking, do I really want to continue doing this?
“I didn't know if I had the full passion for it any longer, but after going to Romania I just got so inspired - it was so awesome.
“I noticed in marshalling everyone was really locked in.
“I was chatting to swimmers from other countries, and they are training so much and are so focused on the sport, so that inspired me.”
After training for the majority of the year in freestyle, a win on the international stage in the 50mbackstroke came as a surprise to the 18-year-old.
Trotter dipped below the 28-second mark to hit the wall first, edging out rivals from Korea and Britain.
“I was looking to get a medal or a high placing. I don't know if I really expected to win,” she said.
“I am so happy about the 50mevents coming into the Olympic program, and this year I really want to make an open Australian team for the Commonwealth Games or the Pan Pacific Championships.”
Off the back of her success in the pool, Trotter has embarked on the next part of her journey away from competition, beginning a Bachelor of Journalism at Bond University after being awarded the Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholarship.
Her journey mirrors that of fellow training partner and Bond student Milla Jansen.
Jansen took home gold last year in Australia’s pet event, the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the World Championships, an event Trotter is determined to make in the coming years.
“I definitely have a long way to go with my 100mfreestyle, my 50mevents are definitely stronger at the moment,” Trotter said.
“But I really want to make that relay team. When I see the photos and the videos of them winning, I honestly couldn't imagine anything more thrilling. I get goosebumps.”