Swimming Australia is delighted to announce its new partnership with leading wealth management company MLC, which will see the iconic Australian brand nurture the country's next wave of swimming talent.
MLC has entered a three-year partnership designed to support young Australian swimmers as the exclusive partner of Swimming Australia's National Flippers program.
Under the new partnership, MLC will play a vital role in fostering, identifying, and discovering the next generation of Australian swimmers via national clinics, camps and competitions.
Swimming Australia Chief Executive Leigh Russell said she was thrilled MLC had joined the Australian swimming tribe and welcomed its commitment and investment during these unique times.
"I know it has been said a lot, but these really are unprecedented times for Australia and for sport, so to have a trusted brand like MLC come on board and support swimming whilst we are all navigating this new normal is just fantastic," Russell said.
"Rebuilding sport at all levels is going to take time, and during this phase it's going to be crucial for the industry that we have commitments from companies like MLC who are wholeheartedly invested in the health and wellbeing of our communities.
"Our next wave of talent is vital to the lifeblood of swimming as they look to continue the strong legacy of champions we have established in this country.
"It's these athletes who are aiming to debut in Paris 2024 we class as our 'gold dust' - they are rare, valuable and require nurturing and skilful handling as they navigate their path through to the elite system."
MLC Wealth CEO Geoff Lloyd said the business was looking forward to helping young Australian swimmers develop to the pinnacle of their sport.
"MLC is thrilled to be partnering with Swimming Australia and supporting this national sport and pastime which enriches and inspires our country on so many levels," he said.
"For more than 130 years MLC has been helping Australians create confidence in their financial future. Much like high-performance sport, wealth creation is a long-term pursuit that requires discipline and patience - and inevitably has to take into account short-term shocks and unexpected issues, such as the coronavirus pandemic.
"As Australians get back into the water and Swimming Australia's athletes resume training, we are proud to be there as a new long-term partner."
Identified as a key priority for the future of our sport, the National Flippers program has been rejuvenated since its initial inception, however its core aim to discover and develop talent remains the same.
The tailored program is designed to prepare and nurture selected athletes who are showing potential, with the hope they can successfully transition to the senior team and represent Australia at major international events within the next four-six years.
