He might have hated it at first, but Tallwoods youngster Harrison Tancred has certainly had a change of heart since he first learned to swim as a six-year-old.
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The Year 5 Hallidays Point Public School student trains four times a week at the Great Lakes Aquatic Centre.
With a flurry of results in the last six months alone, including a win in the NSW Short Course Championships under 10-years 50 metres boys’ breast-stroke, he is being recognised as a potential star of the future in swimming circles up and down the coast.
“I think he’s got huge potential,” Forster and Taree YMCA head swimming coach, Peter Sanders, said.
With 38 years coaching experience, Mr Sanders is well positioned to comment on the virtues of the young swimmers who come under his tutelage, and he believes Harrison has all the makings of someone who could go a long way.
“He hasn’t got a lot of weaknesses,” he said.
“He’s good in all strokes, he works hard on his skills - I haven’t seen a kid enjoy swimming so much in a long time.”
Mum Alicia agreed Harrison’s love for the sport was unwavering.
“He just loves it,” she said.
“He’s happy to get up at 4:30am and go to training.”
But while he lacks nothing in passion or potential, Mr Sanders admitted it was still necessary to be patient with the young charge.
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