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0 Fourteen-year-old Zara Kasprowicz has dominated her age group in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast winning four gold medals and a silver medal.
Representing North Curl Curl SLSC, Kasprowicz won individual gold in the Surf Swim and Ironperson events, and combined with team-mates to win gold in the Surf Swim Team and Board Rescue.
She also won silver in the Cameron Relay.
North Curl Curl club president Glenn Slater said Kasprowicz is a “highly dedicated” athlete who has overcome health troubles in the last 18 months.
“She’s quiet, unassuming – and just really coachable. She’ll come down in a thunder storm and want to train.
“What’s special about her is that she’s 13 and so talented – she was off to the Tokyo Olympic swimming trials – and she’s so humble.
“She teamed up in Board Rescue with her friend Pipi ti Pania and said that winning gold with her close friends was so good.
“She does patrols. She’s so dedicated to the sport,” Slater said.
Kasprowicz, who was been with North Curl Curl since the U/8s, says she was “pretty shocked” to do so well in the national titles.
“I was really surprised and really proud of how I went.
“Before the event my coaches just said ‘believe in yourself; you’ve done the work. Do your best and give it a go!’
“So I did!” Kasprowicz laughed.
Kasprozwicz shared golden glory with ti Pania (U/13/14 female board rescue) and Olivia Clues, ti Pania and Dom Melbourn (U/14/15 female swim team).
She also won silver with ti Pania, Casey Lopes and Holly Smith (U/13/14 female Cameron relay).
With her success in the water she becomes the latest family member to reach the upper echelons of sport after her father Simon (rugby for Manly Marlins and NSW Waratahs) and uncle Michael (38 cricket Tests for Australia).
Kasprowicz, who is in Year 9 at Pittwater House in Cromer, is off to Adelaide on Monday for the Australian Swimming Championships.
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