She’s become one of surf sports must-watch athletes – a prospect who will feature amongst the very best for a long time – and now Katy Rees gets a home NSW Surf Life Saving Championships to help further propel her rapid, and hard-earned, rise to the top.
Less than a year after the Swansea Belmont athlete really announced herself on the big stage, cleaning up in the U17 category at Queenscliff with six golds across individual and team events, she has a chance to do it all over again on the same sand that’s squeaked under her feet since she was a four-year-old Nipper.
It’s an opportunity many competitors dream of, and one Rees isn’t taking for granted.
“It [hosting State Champs at Blacksmiths] honestly means so much to me,” she said.
“Swansea is where I started Nippers, where I’ve trained my whole life, and where I raced in my first ever State Championships. Being back at the beach I grew up on feels incredibly special.
“There’s definitely something extra about racing at home. Having my family, friends, and the entire club, who have all played such a big role in my journey, there to support me is really meaningful, and it’s something I’m so excited for.”
The enthusiasm is contagious from top to bottom throughout the Swansea surf club. In fact, it’s something she loves deeply about her ‘second family’; something that fuels her to want to be the best she can be.
Rees has developed into a role model on and off the beach, so much so that her success has become more than just the sum of its parts.
“I absolutely love it when the younger kids in the club come up and ask me questions,” she said.
“Seeing how excited they are about the sport reminds me so much of myself when I was younger. It honestly wasn’t that long ago that I was the little girl so excited to go up and speak to the older girls at training.
“Now that I’m in that position, I try to always make time for the younger kids and be approachable, because I know how much that meant to me growing up.”
While many would be tempted to look ahead to the future, Rees is focussed on what’s in front of her – the chance to enjoy a major carnival before going home to sleep in her own bed each night.
“If I can walk off the beach knowing I raced the way I know I can and did myself and my club proud on my home beach, I’ll be quietly stoked,” she said.
“And it’s always good to win a couple of medals, too!”
Tuesday 24 February 2026