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Teenage swimming prodigy Kenneth To is looking forward to racing the international stars at next week’s Australian Youth Olympic Festival after smashing Ian Thorpe’s longstanding 200m individual medley record at the NSW championships.
The Sydney schoolboy wiped nearly half a second off Thorpe’s Australian boys’ 16 years record, trouncing the field at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday night.
“It felt good breaking the record,” said To. “It was one of my aims at the start of the season so it is good to eventually achieve that goal.”
After dominating the state championships, To’s attention now turns to the AYOF in Sydney, where the Hong Kong-born Australian will take on competitors from around the world.
“I am very excited for the event, going up against all the international competition and countries I haven’t raced before,” he said.
With the year 12 student competing in a total of six events, it looks as if more national age records may tumble as he is pushed by some of the world’s up-and-coming swimming stars.
“I have had a good preparation,” said To. “I raced well at the NSW championships so I feel confident about how I will go next week.
“Hopefully I can swim some personal bests and see how we go from there.”
With the festival becoming a gateway for such current Australian Olympic representatives as Cate Campbell and Eamon Sullivan, To believes the AYOF will give him a brilliant opportunity to eventually reach the Australian Olympic team.
“Making the Olympics is a dream for me that I am going to be working towards,” said To.
“The event is meant to be a replica of the Olympics and is a great stepping stone for making the Olympic team in 2012 and after that.”
The swimming program begins on Thursday and runs through to Sunday at the Homebush Aquatic Centre.