Image Caption: Daniel Carter (left) and Josh Stapley (right) at Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre.
From The Hills to the World Stage: Local Swimmer and Coach Earn Australian Team Selection
The Hills Shire will be represented on the world stage this year, with local open water swimmer Daniel Carter and coach Josh Stapley from Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre earning Australian team honours following standout national performances.
Carter has been selected for the Australian Junior Dolphins team to compete at the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Junior World Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina this September. In a proud double achievement for The Hills, Waves Head Squad Coach Josh Stapley will join him at the Championships after being appointed Team Coach for the Australian Junior Team.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne congratulated the pair on their selections, highlighting the achievement as an inspiration for budding athletes across the region.
"What an incredibly exciting time for both Daniel and Josh, and for young local athletes aspiring to become Australian Swim Team members and future Olympians. I am thrilled that Waves could play a part in their stories," Mayor Byrne said.
"It's fantastic that we have a community facility in The Hills that fosters talent like this. Since we upgraded the centre in 2022, Waves now features a FINA-standard Olympic-sized pool, multiple training and leisure pools, and state-of-the-art fitness and spa, sauna, and steam room facilities that support athletes at every level."
In September, Carter will compete in the 18-19 years 10km event, with the 3km knockout and 4x1.25km relay also on his program during the championships.
His selection follows an outstanding showing at the 2026 Australian Open Water Championships, where Carter claimed first place in the Under-19 10km race and eighth overall in the open age group event. He also placed 11th in the Open 3km knockout, eighth in the Open 4x1.5km relay and first in the Under-19 5km race at the national championships.
The Hills swimmer's strong form has also earned him selection in the Senior Australian Open Water Team for the second and third rounds of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup later this year.
The Baulkham Hills resident said the selection was a proud and rewarding moment after years of dedication.
"Representing Australia for the first time is something I've been working towards for many years," Mr Carter said.
"Two years ago, I fell short of making the Australian team, so this selection feels especially rewarding. It's the result of a lot of hard work, persistence and belief when things didn't go my way.
"There were moments when I had to reset, refocus and really lift my standards, and this opportunity shows that sticking with it does pay off."
Head Squad Coach Josh Stapley said his own selection as Team Coach for the Australian Junior team at the World Championships was both a personal milestone and a shared achievement.
"Being selected as a national team coach is a huge honour and something I've worked towards for a long time," he said.
"What makes it even more special is being able to do it alongside Daniel after years of working together. Seeing his growth and resilience has been a highlight of the journey.
"This selection feels like real validation for the work that's gone into building our program and pushing standards every day."
The dual Australian selections highlight the strength of local talent and the high-performance pathways being developed within The Hills Shire at Waves.
