The 21-year-old competed in a staggering 17 individual events plus relays at yesterday's competition.

After clinching gold in the 200 metres 16 and over freestyle, a breathless Burton was quick to downplay her performance.

"I was a bit slow then," she said after winning the race by a body length.

"I was about 14 seconds below my best time and times are really important to me."

Burton took home a swag of gold medals yesterday.

As soon as she competed in one race, she rushed back to the marshalling tent for her next event.

Her eyes are firmly set on January's country swimming carnival.

"I had no qualifying times so I wanted to compete in everything to get as many times as I can because I need times for the country carnival.

"It's been tiring. But I've managed to find time to have something to eat and drink and have a bit of recovery."

Burton, who lives in Ballarat, joined Warrnambool Swimming Club two months ago.

The decision to move from the golden city to the south-west was a no-brainer.She met Warrnambool's head coach Jayson Lamb and other club member when they took on the English Channel in July last year.

"They are such an amazing group of people and I'd rather stay with people who I get along with, plus Ballarat doesn't have a beach," she said, referring to her love of open-water swims.

Her medal haul came as a club official declared the carnival's change to a one-day competition this year a success. The carnival has been traditionally held over two half days.

Club secretary Rod Shepherd said the one-day format enabled competitors to swim in all events.

"It's been a lot easier to organise," he said.

"Basically a kid can swim in every event (in their age group) if they wish. We're very happy with the results."

A total of 130 swimmers from Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton, Mount Gambier, Ballarat, Cheltenham and Nunawading competed at the carnival.

It was the south-west's first longcourse competition for the season.

The annual meeting has been held for the past 25 years.

Yesterday was believed to mark the highest number of Warrnambool Swimming Club swimmers to compete at the carnival after 56 members took to the pool.

The competition was held at AquaZone.