Cover image: Flinders students Britt and Grace Mc celebrate at the 2024 Life Saving World Championships
Eight student athletes and two alumni of Matthew Flinders Anglican College have raced in gruelling surf conditions and performed with distinction in the 2024 Life Saving World Championships on the Gold Coast from 20 August to 8 September.
The event involved more than 5,000 competitors from 50 countries across the globe.
The Flinders students who competed are all part of the Flinders Elite Athlete Program, which this year supports 45 talented student athletes across more than 20 sports.
Competitors included Britt Ackerley (Year 11), Pipi Barlow (Year 10), Grace McManis (Year 11), Luca Widmer (Year 11), Tom Basford (Year 12), Serena Bond (Year 12), Sienna Carter (Year 10) and Sive Gibson (Year 11).
FEAP provides student athletes with wide-ranging mentoring and support as they strive to perform with distinction at an elite level while embracing a quality education.
Britt Ackerley said, “The World Championships was an amazing experience, having the opportunity to compete against athletes from other nations as well as Australia.
“I made all my individual finals, which was something only a few achieved. Team events were also a highlight, but the most special part of Worlds was winning the overall pointscore, making our Maroochydore Youth Team the best in the world!”
Team mate Grace McManis said, “Competing in the Surf Life Saving World Championships was an experience I’ll never forget. Representing my club, Maroochydore, and winning the World Youth Championship alongside my friends was incredibly special.
“I was so happy to place 6th in the U/19 ironwoman race in a gruelling M-shaped course against a field that included many professional athletes.
"The competition taught me valuable lessons, especially the importance of teamwork, as every point counted in our narrow six-point overall victory.
“Competing on the world stage at such a young age is a privilege, and I’m grateful for the support from Flinders in making these opportunities possible. I can’t wait to take on more world titles!”
Sive Gibson said, “Competing against the best in the world is something that I will cherish forever. I loved representing my club, Alex Heads, with pride and seeing us all come together to win the youth beach and ocean events is an amazing feat!
“I cannot wait to use this experience as a learning tool to help me guide myself into a direction of positive growth and development as an athlete!”
Also competing was Flinders alumna Ally Clarke (Flinders Class of 2017) who raced in the Canoe Sprint Kayak Four (WK4) 500m event at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Meanwhile, Old Flinderian Henry Simpson (Class of 2023) secured 8 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 5 bronze medals, and won World Champions as part of the Australian Life Saving Team.
Henry raced under the Australian Life Saving Team and the Alexandra Headland Surf Lifesaving Club, and won the Overall Youth Ocean point score with the Alex crew.
Photos from the Event
Britt Ackerley’s results included:
- U19 Ironwoman - 5th
- U19 Board Race - 14th
- U19 Ski Race - 11th
- U19 Board Rescue - 4th
- U19 Female Taplin - 3rd
- U19 Beach Relay - 4th
- U19 Mixed Taplin - 4th
Sive Gibson’s results included:
- Top 32 in the world surf race final
- 5th in the 2km beach run
- 4th in the 3x1km beach run relay
- 4th in the tube rescue
Sienna Carter’s results included:
- U19 2km Beach Run 4th
- U19 Beach Sprint Relay 3rd
- U19 3x1km Relay 2nd
- Open Beach Sprint Relay 8th
Pipi Barlow’s results included:
- Gold & world champions 4 x 50m obstacle relay (pool)
- Gold & world champions 4 x 25m manikin carry (pool)
- Silver - Rescue tube rescue (ocean)
- Silver - Line throw (pool)
- Bronze - Ocean women relay (ocean)
- Bronze - 4 x 50m mixed medley relay (pool)
- 4th - Mixed Ocean Lifesaver Relay (ocean)
- 4th - Individual Beach sprint (beach)
- 7th - Beach relay
- 7th - Beach flags
- 11th - Individual 50m manikin carry (pool)
Luca Widmer’s results included:
Ocean:
- 2nd in Surf Swim Heats
- 4th Surf Swim Semifinal
- 20th Surf Swim World Final
- 2nd in Board Rescue Heats
- 3rd in Board Rescue Semifinal
- 6th in Board Rescue World Final
- 6th in Board Race Heats
- 13th in Board Race Quarterfinal
- 13th in Oceanman Relay World Final
Pool:
- 7th in 200m Obstacle Heats
- 6th in 200m Obstacle World Final
- 2nd in 4x50m Obstacle Relay Heats
- Silver Medal in 4x50m Obstacle Relay World Final
- 9th in 100m Manikin Tow Heats (missed A Final by 0.02 seconds)
- 6th in 100m Manikin Tow B Final (15th overall)
- 12th in 50m Manikin Carry Heats
- 6th in 50m Manikin Carry B Final
- 5th in 4x25m Manikin Carry Relay Heats
- 5th in 4x25m Manikin Carry Relay World Final
- 6th in 200m Super Lifesaver Heats
- 5th in 200m Super Lifesaver World Final
- 4th in 4x50m Medley Relay Heats
- 4th in 4x50m Medley Relay World Final
- DSQ in 100m Manikin Carry Heats
- 11th in 100m Rescue Medley Heats
- 12th in 100m Rescue Medley B Final
- 10th in 4x50m Mixed Lifesaver Relay Heats
- 1st in 4x50m Mixed Lifesaver Relay World Final
