Teenage swim star eyes titles

You would think winning five gold medals at the South Island Long Course Championships would be a career best for 15-year-old swimmer Lucas Bell.

“It was a great three days but last year’s national age grade champs in Napier was my best meet ever,” declares the versatile Richmond athlete. He also claimed five medals there, but they were silver ones.

“I just missed gold by two milliseconds in one race.”

Heading to Invercargill last month played a big part in his build up to return to Napier for the national age grade champs next month.

Lucas was the lone Tasman Swim Club representative competing in Southland with his mother Ruth his support crew.

He won gold in the 50 and 100 metres backstroke, 100 and 200m breaststroke and the 200 metres individual medley. Three of his wins were in South Island record times for his 15-16 year age group. He was runner-up in the 200m backstroke.

The Nelson College student also took out the skins individual medley event where he was the last man standing.

Even more impressive when Lucas reveals his left foot is not quite right.

He used to play volleyball as well until he landed on someone’s foot last October and tore the ligaments in his left foot.

After being sidelined for over a month, the 1.9 metre athlete decided it was much safer sticking to the water.

That really pleased his Tasman Magic coach Shaun Foley, a former top para swimmer.

“I moved from Auckland to the Tasman Swim Club three years ago and saw Lucas had talent from day one. He has huge feet, like flippers, and great hands. He was just built to swim and he is getting stronger all time,” enthuses Shaun.

His coaching philosophy is all about hard work.

“The harder you work and what you put in, is what you get out of it. No short cuts.”
Lucas is certainly following that mantra with early morning training sessions and gym work at the Richmond Aquatic Centre on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – and he’s back in the pool two afternoons as well.

And Thursday isn’t a day off. That is when he does open water swimming, and he is very good at that too.
There are a couple of gym workouts each week as well.

“Sometimes I also train by myself on Fridays.”

All up about 15 hours training a week says his proud mum.

“It is a pretty strict routine. Go to bed early and get up early,” confirms Ruth.
Then there is his part-time weekend job at Raeward Fresh Butchery in Richmond, packaging orders and carrying duties.

“Don’t worry I fit in time to eat.” Describing his southern mission as a good platform going forward, Lucas can’t wait to get back to Napier and could compete in up to nine events over five days.

He is hoping to win age grade gold in his preferred 50 and 100m backstroke races and perhaps make the podium in breaststroke as well.

His rivals from last year will be back but Lucas vows he is out for revenge as he hopes to get recognised by Swimming New Zealand and make the national team which will enable him to get to more meets throughout the country.

He’s eyeing the Olympics, maybe as soon as Los Angeles in 2028, which might mean moving to a bigger swimming centre.

In the meantime, his coach says he is the leader of a very promising young talent pool at the Tasman Swim Club.