By JARROD POTTER
ONE race, one champion, one fat cheque.
A top-eight world swimming ranking has earned Tooradin backstroker Josh Beaver a chance to compete against the best at the inaugural Singapore Swim Stars.
Beaver, 21, has been on an upward trajectory for the past 12 months and now his Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs’ training has paid triple dividends granting him a place at the invitational meet.
It added another week to his already jam-packed winter schedule following his personal-best smashing efforts in Glasgow.
“When I got the invite and heard who was going I felt privileged to be invited,” Beaver said.
“When I was growing up they were my childhood heroes… being in the same vicinity and area as those guys meant a lot.
“I certainly learnt a lot and got to be with them… it was a big learning curve for me.”
The Swim Stars was not your average swim meet by any stretch – the swimmers were welcomed by light shows, drum crews and music blaring through the venue in between the short-distance races.
There were no heats, semis or qualifiers – just a single race to decide the Swim Star champion in each 50m/100m discipline.
Swimming at Singapore’s OCBC Aquatic Centre on Friday night, Beaver took to the 100m backstroke and finished just off the podium in his race behind American David Plummer and Australian team mate Ash Delaney.
In a time of 54.77, Beaver touched the wall fifth to pick up a cheque for $300 and confirm his status as one of the best backstroke swimmers internationally.
“It was somewhat different – I wasn’t in full training and had just taken a week off,” Beaver said.
“I was over there and didn’t really expect to have a go.
“Took it a bit easier in the actual race – but it turned out to be an alright swim.”
Featuring in his third international swimming meet in as many months – the main takeaway for Beaver was to get his name out there and become better recognised among the best swimmers on the planet.
“A lot of knowledge really – I went in there being a nobody and came out knowing a few more people and them knowing me,” Beaver said.
“When I go to compete internationally again they’ll recognise me… when they’re running this meet again hopefully I’ll get an invite back.”
His rest and recovery is well earned after an itinerary featuring the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs back-to-back – a superhuman task for any swimmer to train towards – but Beaver was thrilled to feature in the top-tier events.
“Just taking a massive mental break – backing up between Glasgow and Pan Pacs was tough mentally,” Beaver said.
“I was mentally drained after Glasgow so to get up and perform at Pan Pacs was a great effort.
“Had a week off and then did this just for Singapore… and now I’ll take another break… it’s really been a big few months.”
Highlighting the long-term nature of swimming training, Beaver’s next main goal is to make the Australian team at the Rio Olympic Games – an event nearly 700 days away.
“Soon as I get back into it – the cycle goes straight through to Rio,” he said.
“It helps that I’m in good form – Rio is 700 days away so I’m pretty excited.”
Beaver wanted to thank his long-time coach Ben Hiddlestone and congratulate his mentor on his selection for the Pan Pacs’ coaching panel.
“Thanks to Ben – him being on his first Australian team was pretty special,” Beaver said.
