Warrnambool Swimming Club's Emily Bartlett, Sebastian Christie-Crane, Alex Johnston and coach Paul Aberline set for 2018 School Sport Australia championships

“I actually started doing it as fitness for gymnastics and then I realised that I loved it so I quit gymnastics and started swimming more,” she said.

Now, some six years on, the Warrnambool teenager is preparing for a heavy workload at the 2018 School Sport Australia swimming championships in Tasmania.

Bartlett, 17, will represent Victoria in 50m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley and two relays.

It will be the Brauer College student’s second time swimming for her state after competing at nationals two years ago.

“(I didn’t do) too well because I’d just been coming out of an injury but it was a good experience,” she said.

This time Bartlett is confident of making a splash.

The Koroit resident does seven pool trainings a week plus four gym and yoga sessions.

“I think it will be good to see how our training this season has gone, to see how much stronger I am than I was last season,” she said.

Bartlett is one of three Warrnambool Swimming Club members bound for Hobart on Wednesday.

Hamilton-based Sebastian Christie-Crane, who travels to Warrnambool for training most days, will compete for a second straight year and Warrnambool-based Alex Johnston will make his Victorian debut.

Warrnambool coach Paul Aberline will be on deck as a state team mentor for a second consecutive year.

Christie-Crane, 17, will tackle 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

The Monivae College student medalled at the Pacific School Games – a larger competition which coincides with the SSA championships every second year – in 2017.

“I had a pretty good meet last year, I got a third place medal in the 100m free so I am hoping to do that again,” he said.

Johnston is the youngest of the trio at 13.

The Emmanuel College student is excited for his first national championships and will race in the 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle and some age groups.

“The team around me and the support you get from your friends, coaches and everyone at the Warrnambool club (is why I do it),” he said.

Aberline, who taught Johnston at Emmanuel College last semester, said the Warrnambool Swimming Club was proud of its three representatives.

“They all have big programs,” he said.

“Emily’s got a fair program of distance stuff.

“Seb last year at the Pacific School Games swam really well and got a national time there and Alex normally races really well, so I am looking forward to having all of them there.”