Ellie’s good as gold

By Jarrod Potter
ELLIE COLE is one of six swimmers in the running for Swimming Australia’s Peoples’ Choice Award.
Cole, 19, who swims for the Casey TigerSharks, was nominated for the award after a great year in the pool, winning six gold medals at the Para Pan Pacific Championships, held in Edmonton, Canada in August.
Cole took home gold medals in six events at the championships, including wins in the 200-metres individual medley, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and the 50m, 100m, and 400m freestyle.
“I didn’t think I’d go that well,” Cole told the Cranbourne News in August. “I had the Australian shortcourse national championships a few weeks before that, so that gave me some confidence leading into the competition.
“I knew I’d swim well, but I didn’t think I would win six golds.”
Cole is up against James Magnussen Alicia Coutts Melissa Gorman, Geoff Huegill and Leisel Jones for the award, which can be voted for on the Swimming Australia website.
The Swimming Australia Swimmer of the Year Awards will be held at Australian Technology Park, Sydney on Saturday 3 December.