For Tilly King, it was a breakthrough worth the wait.
The Bull Sharks breaststroke specialist claimed her first national title at the Australian Short Course Championships in Melbourne – a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke – and now has her sights firmly set on next year’s Commonwealth Games.
King’s golden swim was backed up with silver medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, all in personal best times.
“She was the best female breaststroker there across the three events,” said Bond Director of Swimming Kyle Samuelson.
“She’s improved a great deal over the last 18 months, and now it’s about translating those short course results into long course success.”
King hadn’t done any short course race preparation and admitted she went into the meet without expectations.
“It was my first national title which was exciting,” she said.
“And Zander led the Bond crew extremely well and everyone really enjoyed the meet and posted some great results.
“I think the meet gave me a good indication of where I am at early in the season and what I can work towards leading into 2026 and the Commonwealth Games trials.
“There's lots of opportunities next year so I’m really looking forward to carrying on progressing and improving with the goal of hopefully earning a spot on an open Australian team.”
Coach Zander Hey took a small squad to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre made up of athletes who hadn’t travelled with national teams this year – and they made the most of the opportunity.
Claudia Fydler, daughter of Bond’s Olympic gold medallist Chris Fydler and Olympian Rose Fydler (née Brown), claimed gold in the 50m butterfly, while her sister Adriana picked up bronze medals in the 200m backstroke and 400m freestyle.
Samuelson said the sisters’ value to the program would never be measured in medals, but he was thrilled to see them claim some success.
“Claudia also swam all PBs. Both sisters are really good trainers and extremely valued members of the squad,” he said.
“Claudia is no-nonsense – she sets the standard in training and professionalism, and her attitude and effort are consistent every single day. She just rolls in and gets to work, and you need athletes like that in a program.
“(The sisters) are not just great athletes – they’re great examples of how to train and compete the right way.”
Emma Doherty continued Bond’s medal streak with bronze in the 100m individual medley, while Sam Kenny and Jesse Welsh impressed with finals appearances – Kenny in two events and Welsh in the 200m backstroke.
“It was the main competition for those who didn’t travel away on teams this year,” Samuelson said.
“Our athletes who made teams and went away to World Championships or with the Australia A team didn’t travel, and we were thrilled with the way the team we sent performed.
“It provided them a chance to close the short course season out with some quality racing – and they really delivered.”