Published 23 April 2024
Australia has named its Life Saving Team that will contest the 2024 World Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast from 20 August - 8 September.
Following the recent Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, the 12 person Open Team and 12 person Youth Team has been named that will represent Australia on home soil.
The World Championships is expected to bring more than 50 nations to Australia from across the world to compete in the national team and club competitions. Off the back of the International Life Saving and Surf Life Saving Australia’s recent announcement to bid for Life Saving’s inclusion in the Olympic Games, the 2024 World Championships will likely be the biggest showcase for Brisbane 2032 organisers to see what the competition at the Olympics could look like.
Lana Rogers will spearhead the women’s squad after a perfect season that saw her win the Coolangatta Gold, Nutri-Grain Ironwoman and Australian Ironwoman crowns. She’ll also be joined by recently crowned Australian Open Single Ski and Swim Champion Noami Scott as well as U19 Australian Beach Sprint and Beach Flag Champion Britney Ingr. In the Youth Women’s, sisters Jasmine and Bianca Rayward, have been selected as part of the squad.
Recently crowned Australian male board champion Zach Morris together with fellow Nutri-Grain Ironman Corey Fletcher and Australian beach sensation Jason Gough will form part of the men’s open squad. In the Men’s Youth squad, Ethan Callaghan took home seven medals for Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, including one gold for the U19 Male Surf Race and will feature as part of the Australian Team.
Australian Life Saving Team (Opens) Head Coach, Zayne Hamill, is excited to announce the squad that will proudly represent their country in front of a home crowd.
“It’s fantastic to have a World Championships at home, I think it’s a real showcase for the sport in such an iconic location on the Gold Coast.
“The chance to represent your country, whether it’s overseas or at home, is a real unique experience and I'm looking forward to making the most of this opportunity,” he said.
Hamill, who was coaching Surfers Paradise SLSC at the Australian Championships, said he was impressed by the callibre of talent coming through the ranks and the opportunity that will present Australia later this year.
“Surf sports in Australia is absolutely thriving. It’s been so good to be at the Australian Championships and see so many young people in action from our youth through to our senior competitors.
“I was really blown away by the skillset the young ones showed in difficult conditions and seeing the best of the best out there testing themselves,” he said.
Hamill said the squad that has been assembled will be the right mix of all rounder skill sets, with some athletes getting their first opportunity to represent their country.
“The squad is a great mix of youth and experience which is exciting. When you have young people that maybe haven't been in an Australian team before, they get the chance to get a taste of it and step up to the occasion. Then you have some of the older heads that bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to it and they can be great leaders.
“The plan leading into the World Championships will be to bring the team together and make them feel part of something special and support each other on the journey. We’ll have a number of opportunities to do that and to also practice those formats so when we get to race day we know exactly what we need to do and we’re ready to go.
“New Zealand are our traditional main rivals across the Tasman. Internationally the sport is growing and it’s great at past World Championships to see top competitors from Europe and Asia as well,” he said.
AUSTRALIAN LIFE SAVING TEAM
Open Female
Rachel Eddy – Currumbin SLSC
Britney Ingr – Kurrawa SLSC
Chelsea Jones – Currumbin SLSC
Mariah Jones – Tweed Heads & Coolangatta SLSC / Sunshine Coast Grammar Pool Lifesaving Club
Lana Rogers - Northcliffe SLSC
Naomi Scott - Northcliffe SLSC
RESERVES: Cyra Bender (Northcliffe), Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore),
Open Male
Corey Fletcher - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
Harrison Hynes - Trigg Island SLSC / West Life Saving Club
James Koch – Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
Jason Gough - Northcliffe SLSC
Zach Morris - Northcliffe SLSC
Jake Smith – Trigg Island SLSC / West Life Saving Club
RESERVES: Callum Brennan (Currumbin / Sunshine Coast Grammar Pool Lifesaving Club), Cooper Williams (Alexandra Headland)
National Open Coach: Zayne Hamill
Youth Female
Piper Asquith – Northcliffe SLSC
Mischa Boniface – Mollymook SLSC
Jemma Holt – Mordialloc LSC
Bianca Rayward - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
Jasmine Rayward - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
Lani Waller - Redhead SLSC
RESERVES: Olivia Clues (Newport), Kaitlin Rees (Swansea-Belmont SLSC)
Youth Male
Riley Brennan - Currumbin SLSC / Sunshine Coast Grammar Pool Lifesaving Club
Ethan Callaghan - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
Kai Gilbert – Northcliffe SLSC
Henry Simpson - Alexandra Headland SLSC
Kobe Sorensen - North Cronulla SLSC
Brayden Woodford – Bulli SLSC / Engadine Lifesaving Club
RESERVES: Taj Andrews (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC), Kobi Holden (Currumbin SLSC & Elliot Heads SLSC)
National Youth Coach: Craig Holden
For more information please contact:
Lauren Ryan | 0402 162 807 | lauren.ryan@btbconsulting.com.au
