Swimming young gun Vaggelis Tsirapidis has smashed his personal best records and claimed the Victorian Age Short Course Championships for his age group.
The Greek migrant won gold for the 17-18 boys category for the 400 metre freestyle and the 1,500 metre freestyle, achieving one of the eighth best Australian times for the season.
He also won the same 1,500 metre freestyle event in open water one month ago.
The wins have set up the 18-year-old well for his main event, the Victorian Open Water Championships next month. He’ll also be preparing for the Australian Open water championships in February.
A natural in open water, Tsirapidis has competed in the events in the past two years, self-funding his trips from Greece.
Tsirapidis has moved to Australia this year to follow his swimming dream in a country that loves swimming.
He has committed himself to the sport, and while studying here for the next three years, he will be hoping to get noticed by the swimming elite.
He’s currently swimming at Surrey Park Swimming Club, with Kevin Blum as coach.