The Australian Youth Life Saving Team (AYLT) has begun preparations for the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships in Riccione by naming its youth squad, headlined by South Coast product Bailey Krstevski.
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Following a COVID-19 impacted past 15 months, which saw the 2020 world championships cancelled, Krstevski's and his 18 Australian teammates are now focused on reclaiming the youth crown when they head to Italy next September.
Joining Warilla-Barrack Point's Krstevski in the squad are Newport quartet Mitchell and Jake Morris, Kimberley Doyle and Conner Maggs and Northcliffe foursome Claudia Bailey, Cyra Bender, Asher Ward and Jamie Perkins - who dominated the under 17s female competition at 2021 Aussies by taking out ironwoman, board and 2km ocean swim.
Beach standouts Kiara Rychvalsky (Maroochydore), Emelyn Wheeler (Terrigal) and Britney Ingr (Currumbin) lead an extremely strong female contingent on the sand and will be joined by Ward and Luke Avati (Coogee).
Rounding out the team will be Alexandria Headlands' Jacob Dickey, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park's Lily O'Sullivan, Currumbim's Callum Brennan, Noosa Heads' Finella Gibbs-Beal, Southport's Morgan Trinca and Wanda's Fletcher Warn.
A new initiative to the Australian Youth Life Saving Team is the talent identification squad which will incorporate athletes who are eligible for the 2024 Youth Lifesaving World Championships.
Australian head coach Craig Holden is excited to expand the understanding of what the Australian Lifesaving Team means across all of lifesaving.
"The primary aim of the talent ID squad is to identify and recognise the performances of athletes who will be eligible to take part in the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships (LWC) to be held on the Gold Coast," Holden said.
"To begin that education process of our younger athletes of what a LWC campaign looks like is hugely beneficial.
"The environment in which LWC are held across the five days of competition incorporating ocean, beach and pool rescue disciplines is extremely unique and challenging.
"The more knowledge we can pass on to these athletes will be great for future teams."
The 21-person talent ID squad features Cooks Hill's Alex and Lani Walker, Red Head's Kane Edwards and Brodie Wright, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park's Chelsea Wood, City of Perth's Megan McCaffrey, Currumbin's Riley Brennan, McMasters Beach's Skye Hackshall, Maroochydore's Tom Johnston, Newport's Joshua Kerr, North Burleigh's Jasmine Rayward, North Cronulla's Kobe Sorensen, North Curl Curl's Dominique Melbourn, Northcliffe's Zara Richters, Port Elliot's Harry Pearce, Quinns Mindarie's Tana Wesley, Swansea Belmont's and Zara Foran, Tannum Sands' Taj Andrews, Tugun's Allie Hughes, Tweed Heads and Coolangatta's Lily Alford and Wanda's Keira Vincent.
The 2022 Lifesaving World Championships campaign has already seen the cancellation of Sanyo Cup 2021 (Miyazaki, Japan) and International Surf Rescue Challenge 2021 (Daytona Beach, United States) as international travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine periods remain in place stemming from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
At this stage the Life Saving World Championships 2022 are still planned to go head in Riccione, Italy however the situation will continuously be monitored as COVID-19 restrictions evolve following further vaccinations in Australia and the world.
With a significant lack of pool rescue competition over the past 18 months, all corresponding athletes will be added to these squads following the 2021 Australian Pool Rescue Championships from August 6-8 on the Gold Coast.
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