A Manly swimmer and her coach are preparing for the international stage after standout national results earned them selection for Australia’s Junior Dolphins team bound for Vancouver.
Manly Swimmer Turns National Success Into Australian Selection
Lillie McPherson’s years of training at Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre have led to a major representative milestone, with the 17-year-old selected for Australia’s 2026 Junior Dolphins Pan Pacific Team.
McPherson earned her place after a strong campaign at the Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast, where she won three gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze. Her gold medals came in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly.
The result places McPherson on the Australian team heading to the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Vancouver, Canada, in August. Her selection marks a clear link between local training and international junior competition.
McPherson has trained at Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre since she was 12, building towards a national campaign that delivered medals across multiple events and secured her place in the Australian junior team.
Manly Coach Joins Her On The Junior Dolphins team
The Manly presence in Vancouver will extend beyond the pool, with Justin Rothwell also selected as one of six coaches for the Junior Dolphins Pan Pacific Team.
Rothwell is Head Coach at Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre and coaches McPherson. His selection gives Manly representation in both the athlete and coaching ranks at the championships.
Together, McPherson and Rothwell give the Manly program a direct role in Australia’s junior swimming team for the event. Their selection follows the Australian Age Championships, where Manly and Warringah swimmers produced several strong results across individual events.
More Manly Swimmers Post National Results
Manly Swimming Club had 28 swimmers competing at the Australian Open and Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast in April, giving the club a broad presence across the national meet.
Among the additional Manly results, Lexi Harrison placed sixth in Australia in the 200m individual medley and fourth in the 400m individual medley. Sarah Locke also placed seventh in Australia in the 200m freestyle final.
Those results added further depth to Manly’s showing, with several local swimmers reaching high national placings while McPherson and Rothwell secured selection for the international team.
Warringah Results Add Wider Local Context
The Manly achievement came alongside strong results from Warringah Aquatic Centre swimmers.
Luke Higgs, who has trained at Warringah Aquatic Centre since he was 11, was also selected for the Australian team after winning two gold medals and two silver medals. His gold medals came in the 1500m freestyle and 400m individual medley.
Warringah’s Zavier Tay will represent Singapore at the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, while Callyn Fenwick-Kearns placed fifth in the men’s 50m backstroke final.
The combined results from Manly and Warringah show a strong national meet for local swimmers, with multiple athletes earning medals, high placings and international selection.
Manly Bound for Vancouver
The feature moment is the pairing of McPherson and Rothwell on the Australian Junior Dolphins team. Their selection reflects a progression from regular training at Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre to national results and a place at an international junior championship.
The Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships will be held in Vancouver in August, with McPherson representing Australia in the pool and Rothwell joining the coaching team.
Published 5-May-2026
