In February 2024, ITC attended a school assembly at Lane Cove Public School. At this assembly, the school was handing out ribbons from the recent swimming carnival. One young girl was called up so many times to receive ribbons that the crowd of children watching on were impossible to keep quiet – there were giggles, gasps, and whispers! The crowd of parents and children heard her name so often that she was impossible to forget – Alina Bajusz!
Alina, now in Year 4 at Lane Cove Public School, has already established an extraordinary reputation in the pool, earning multiple state and national titles and representing New South Wales on the national stage. This young athlete shows incredible passion and determination in swimming.
2025 – An Amazing Year
It all started in April 2025 when Alina qualified yet again for the NSW School State Championships, winning both the 50m Freestyle (32.01s) and 50m Butterfly (34.07s) — and earning her place at the National Championships as part of Team NSW.
Her consistent excellence has been years in the making. Back in June 2024, she competed at Sydney Swimming Metro North West Winter Championships, where she collected 6 Gold and 1 Silver medal. In June 2025, she returned to the same competition and went home with 11 gold medals and one silver medal.
In September, Alina competed in the Speedo NSW Youth State Age Championships (9 years division), where she was crowned NSW Champion in:
- 50m Butterfly
- 100m Butterfly
- 100m Freestyle
She also claimed:
- Silver in 200m Individual Medley
- Silver in 50m Freestyle
- Bronze in 100m Individual Medley
- 4th place in 100m Breaststroke
And capped it all off with two gold medals in relays.
In October 2025, she was part of Team NSW at School Sport Nationals in Ballarat.
Competing against some of the nation’s best, she performed extraordinarily well and brought home five medals in total:
🏅 GOLD – National Champion, 50 m Butterfly (10 years)
🥈 SILVER – 50 m Freestyle
🥈 SILVER – 100 m Butterfly
🥇 GOLD – 4 × 50 m Freestyle Relay
🥇 GOLD – 4 × 50 m Individual Medley Relay
As you can imagine, her family are full of pride for their daughter’s success. They described her efforts in the pool as “confident, courageous and enduring”.
A True Team Player
Alina swims with the Carlile Swimming Team, one of Australia’s most respected swim programs, known for nurturing champions. Whether competing in elite meets or team events like the Speedo Sprint Series, she’s recognised for her sportsmanship, team spirit and constant personal bests.
When we asked Alina what it is about swimming that has created so much focus and determination for her. She said, “I like to be with my friends, having fun in the water. I feel free in the water and push my limits.”
What’s Next
With her determination, skill and passion for the sport, Alina is certainly one to watch. She says “I like to challenge myself and beat my PB in each competition.”
Alina says she would like to compete at the Olympic Games one day and become an Australian Dolphin.
Her biggest fans are her parents. After Nationals, her mother said, “Don’t stop, never give up. Hold your head high and reach the top. Let the world see what you have got.”
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