And, that is just what Stroud Seals Swim Club member, Raffa Francesci got to experience when he competed in the combined NSW State Open and University Games earlier this year at Sydney Olympic Park.

"I was racing some Olympians which was good practice," Raffa said.

"It really made me step it up a level."

Raffa said as the meet was awash with Olympians it was good practice in the a lead up to the world swimming trials where swimmers compete for a spot in the Australian Dolphins Swim Team.

Raffa even got a chance to see one of his swimming idols, David Morgan compete.

"He swan the 200 metre butterfly in under two minutes which was amazing," Raffa said.

"It was really good to watch him swim."

He may not have brought home a fist full of medals, but he smashed a few of his personal best (PB) times and has inched a little bit closer to his National time goal.

His events of choice are the 200 metre and 100 metre butterfly and the anything from the 50 metre to 200 metre freestyle.

At the event, he shaved two seconds off his PB 200m butterfly time, which means he's now only two seconds off the National qualifying time.

After taking it easy in the pool, only really training during the season, Raffa has decided to take it up all year round, hoping to train 6-8 times at week at Raymond Terrace.

The 16-year-old only started swimming after competing in the Dungog Primary School swim carnival, making it to zone and regionals.

"I'm really late to swimming," Raffa said.

"I started competing at 12 years old."

But he seems to have taken to it like a fish as he made his first State time that same year.