Alia's 150km swim

This is Alia Shaw, an 11 year old in the Silver Squad at Grace Swimming in Rothwell. Squad Swimmers move in to the Silver Squad once they are achieving State Qualifying times, so Alia sure knows how to swim well and fast! She has been swimming since she was a baby, and competitively since she was 7. Alia started in our Learn to Swim Program 3 years ago and has come a long way. She would love to get her 50 Freestyle under 31 seconds, and is aiming to make it to School States.

Between the 26th January and the 24th February, Alia will be swimming 150kms to raise money for the Starlight Foundation.
“I’m excited that I get to swim for this cause”, says Alia. When asked if she was nervous, she shook her head. “It’s a nice challenge and I am feeling pretty confident I will achieve the goal.” Being part of the Silver (State) Squad at Grace Swimming, Alia swims a minimum of 5 sessions a week, and usually swims around 5km per session. Her training will help her reach some of the goal, but any additional kilometres will mean overtime for Alia, and she will head over to Deception Bay Pool where some of her long course training takes place and swim extra laps on weekends. 150kms is a long way, so it is very impressive that an 11 year old will be doing it in 30 days, and with some very hard sets and a range of strokes, too.
Alia’s coaches say she is “committed, dedicated and hard working. She has the determination in her swimming to keep going even when things get tough. Her willingness to keep going and going is a reason why she is where she is in her swimming and aiming for big goals.”

The Starlight Foundation ‘helps sick kids forget their illness and re-discover the joy of childhood’. Alia is very grateful that she has the ability and health to swim and lead a fit and healthy lifestyle. She wants to use that to take this opportunity to help out other kids that aren’t as fortunate. You can help support Alia on her mission by going to the link below and donating, or by sharing this page. Well done, Alia – keep up the great work! We look forward to following your kilometres over the coming month!

DONATE HERE: https://superswim.org.au/alia-shaw