With the 2018 Envirobank Country Championships just around the corner we profile some of those athletes looking to make an impact when competition gets underway at South West Rocks.


Cudgen’s Lily O’Sullivan has enjoyed a scintillating start to summer and definitely has plenty of form coming into this weekend’s event.



The talented teenager already has a state silver medal on her resume, was unbeaten in individual events at December’s Interbranch Championship, and was a member of the inaugural NSW Youth Pathway Cup team that claimed the overall title at Sydney’s Freshwater Beach on Australia Day.



Now in her second season at Cudgen Lily O’Sullivan is looking forward to the challenge of being part of the team and is hopeful of a strong showing at the 2018 Country Championships.



What are your best performances at Country Champs or at other major events?



I recently won all three of my individual events at Interbranch at Stockton Beach: Iron woman, Board and Swim and Jack Breen and I came second in board relay.



I got silver in Ironwoman at state last year and won board relay with Olissa Onley and Imogen Evans. We also got third in State mixed Cameron.



Last country Championships I won the surf race and girls surfing, got silver in Iron woman and fourth in board after a disappointing start. I got a gold in board relay, surf teams and silver in cameron.



I am also the Age Champion in Kozii Iron Challenge and Kozii Cudgen Classic and have won gold in Lennox Enduro.



How long have you been involved in surf lifesaving?



Since I was 5 years old.



What do you enjoy most about being a member of a surf lifesaving club?



 I love being with all my friends throughout the week at training and then being part of an awesome team at Carnivals. We all train so hard and it’s so great to be around like minded people. It’s just so fun!



How has your training been going for the Country Championships?



I am feeling really good going into Country championships, I have a really good pre race the week before competing at The Youth Pathways Cup for NSW. I have been putting 150% into my training and hope that my results show it. My coaches Dwayne, Paul, Changa and Macka have all been amazing helping to push my limits and improve in all areas this season.



What are your goals for the Championships and the rest of the season?



 I would love to walk out with Gold in all of my individuals, but I have some really tough competition particularly in my own club, Cudgen! The girls are all on fire.



Do you have any pre-event superstitions or preparations?



Not really. Mum and Dad like me to go to bed nice and early and I just try and get to the race early so I get my head space right and get a good warm up in.



What are you most looking forward to about Country Championships?



Being part of Team Cudgen!



Are there any surf athletes you admire or have found to be an inspiration and why?



My neighbour Nadi Canning has been the best inspiration ever. She has been an amazing! She is super smart and worked full time as a doctor and also trained so hard to win the Coolangatta Gold elite short course last year and got so many Gold medals at State and Country.



She is the nicest person and so kind to everyone and is so supportive of me. I would love to be like her one day.  I used to compete in surfing while still doing Surf Life Saving and was swaying more towards surfing, after I met Nadi, I saw how good surf life saving is and strived to get better, I am now achieving podium finishes at State. I really loved my first season with Cudgen last year and my training and results showed.



 



Tuesday 30 January 2018