Sport
4 August, 2025
Top para swimmers in camp
AUSTRALIA’S top para swimmers have landed in Cairns for a week-long high performance training camp ahead of the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore this September.
The full 25-member Australian Para Dolphins squad, including Paralympic medallists and rising stars, are training at Tobruk Memorial Pool, chosen for its world-class facilities and tropical conditions that mirror those expected in Singapore.
Paralympic program head coach Mel Tantrum said Cairns was the ideal location for the team’s first full training camp since selection, helping athletes acclimatise and prepare for the months ahead.
“We chose Cairns because it replicates the environment that we’ll go into in Singapore, with the hot and humid conditions,” she said.
“The pool is fantastic and provides the high-performance training environment we want to expose the team to.”
Among those expected to shine is Cairns’ own Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson, a three-time Paralympian and four-time medallist.
At 36, he is the most senior member of the squad and a respected leader within the team.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be part of this team,” Mr Patterson said.
“There’s about 5.5 million people in Australia with a disability, and only 329 athletes have swum on the Australian Para Dolphins team. To be part of that small number is very special.”
While juggling work with training, Mr Patterson said he was committed to both his individual goals and his role as a team leader.
“We’ve got a great pool of athletes – it’s like a bag of mixed lollies,” he said.
“And with the right culture and headspace, we can produce some pretty good performances in Singapore.”
Cairns regional councillor Rob Pyne said hosting the Para Dolphins was another feather in the city’s sporting cap.
“Their visit builds on our city’s reputation as a world-class location for sport,” Cr Pyne said.
“Being able to host elite sportspeople inspires young swimmers and athletes of all abilities to aim higher, train harder and believe in their potential.”
Following the camp, the Para Dolphins will continue individual training in their home programs before regrouping in Darwin on September 7 for final staging ahead of the World Championships.
