Wunderkind Wunsch, taking on the world with self-belief in every stroke

Why on earth would Sydney teenager Olivia Wunsch want 2024 to end?

After all, the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder was presented with an Olympic gold medal, she completed her HSC, and she rung in Christmas by breaking an all-time great of Australian swimming’s 100m freestyle record.

They’re all great reasons to celebrate, but Wunsch insists the incredible experiences she’s gained over the last 12 months have provided her with a special gift which not only accompanies her at every training session, but it’s also providing her with enormous strength as she sets her sights on Los Angeles 2028, the Brisbane 2032 Olympics Games, and whatever may follow . . .

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“Since returning from Paris I’ve found I have extra belief in myself at training,” said the 18-year-old who was selected for the Australian Olympic Team after setting a series of personal bests at the Paris Games selection trials that were held in Brisbane.

“That means I can chase bigger dreams and bigger goals knowing I’m capable of it. [Paris] has also set new competitors for me to train against [in my mind] and to compete against by looking at, and comparing, our times.”

Although, Wunsch said her gold medal – which she has stored in a sock ‘somewhere’ in her wardrobe – holds a special significance. She explains it not only symbolises ‘legacy’ but it is also a taste of the excitement that she hopes awaits her in the years to come.

“The medal represents being a part of the [Australian 4x100m] relay team and the legacy of the relay team,” she said.

“It also represents the impact the older girls in that squad [Bronte Campbell, Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, Shayna Jack] have had on my whole career . . .  since I was a young swimmer . . . and that was to train and dream, and to enjoy racing.

“They’ve all had a positive impact on me, and [the medal] is a reminder of their impact. If I can have that kind of impact on other people, well, that would be the absolute dream for me.”

Wunsch proved at last week’s NSW State Age LC Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park that she isn’t stuck in the high of playing her part as a heat swimmer for the triumphant 4 x 100m women’s relay team in Paris’s La Defense Arena

If anything, the hit out highlighted the teenager has the same brand of hunger and determination which drives the women who’ve left an indelible impression on her.

She sizzled as she broke all-time great Emma McKeon’s record for the women’s 100m freestyle (18 year’s old) event by clocking 54:00 seconds, shaving 0.11 off the time McKeon – who retired from swimming last month after winning a total of 14 Olympic medals – set in 2013.

If that wasn’t enough, Wunsch also dominated the 18 years and over 100m butterfly, smashing the previous record by 0.60; she fell painfully short of bettering her own 50m freestyle record, and was way too hot for the rest of the field to handle when she stormed home in the 18 years and over 50m butterfly.

She explained fun, and not glory, propelled her to dive into the state age championships.

“I had a lot of fun coming back to NSW champs,” she said. “I had a pretty big year, my HSC, so my final year of school and then I had the Olympics which I wasn’t expecting to make. I had my eyes set more on short course at the end of this year.

“I had some really solid training leading into the Olympics and I just really wanted to enjoy the experience while I was in France. It was really nice to come back to state champs after having some time off after coming back from Paris.

“My training has been reduced. I have just worked my way slowly back from school to get healthy again. It was really nice to put together a race that was the starting point for the season and one which focussed on skill aspects.

“What was interesting looking back at my [100m] race with the biomechanist was my skill time was actually the fastest it has ever been. That’s really positive for me looking forward, just knowing when I get some training and more fitness under my belt it should be really good for next season.  Hopefully I can drop my time.”

Wunsch’s 2024 follows a remarkable 2023 when, at just 17, she announced her arrival as a future star of Australian swimming by winning six medals, five of them gold, at the World Junior Aquatic Championships.

Upon her return from that meet Wunsch explained that what she took from her haul was the power, as well as the need, of having self-belief when one steps out of their comfort zone. She added there was also a lot to be said for focussing on the things that can be controlled.

“That meet resulted in five gold medals, but that wasn’t really my goal because I just wanted to put together the best race plan I could,” Wunsch said.

“It was nice to come away with the medals, and [that meet] provided me with the belief in myself that maybe I was able to do that on the senior stage.”

And now, with so much going for her, the stage is set for Wunsch to fly . . .

Daniel Lane, NSWIS