The Bull Sharks are set to dive into 2025 with a fresh wave of international talent, and a totally new sound to the daily training sessions.
What began as a trickle has become a stream following the incredible success of the first intake of World Aquatics Scholarship recipients into the Bond University swimming program in 2024.
Inspired by the feats of Syrian Omar Abbass and Lanihei Connolly from the Cook Islands, who both qualified for their first Olympics after joining the Bull Sharks, seven new World Aquatics athletes from each corner of the world will call Bond University home in 2025.
“It was incredible to live out my childhood dream of competing at the Olympics,” Conolly said.
“After my race I just stood there, soaking it all in, with around 17,000 spectators cheering. It was unforgettable.”
There was a time when the splash of water and the muted voices of coaches talking to fatigued swimmers was all you’d hear in the wee hours and late afternoons at the Peter Beckwith Pool.
Now the languages and accents outnumber the strokes being perfected in the pool.
Sangay Tenzin, Marina Abu Shamaleh, Siwakhile Dlamini, Andrea Becali and Nika Tchitchiashvili are already here and training under the expert guidance of Kyle Samuelson, Chris Mooney and Zander Hey. Josh Tarere from Papua New Guinea and Mongolian Enkhtamir Batbayar will join the squad in the new year.
Olympians Abbass and Connolly plus Tongan Finau Ohafui have returned for a second year.
For some of the newcomers, the Gold Coast lifestyle is a thrilling change of pace.
Cuban swimmer Andrea Becali, who swam the 200m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, is not only putting in the work in the pool but also immersing herself in English, picking up phrases from her new housemates at the Bond sports house.
Siwakhile Dlamini, hailing from Eswatini, (formerly Swaziland) has only been in Australia for three weeks but is already adjusting to life on the Gold Coast.
“The lifestyle here is similar to back home in Africa, especially the food, but I’m definitely learning how to be more independent,” said Dlamini.
Palestinian swimmer Marina Abu Shamaleh is no stranger to Australian waters, having completed her schooling at Ambrose Treacy College in Brisbane.
It is a reunion of sorts for Sangay Tenzin of Bhutan who is thrilled to be back training alongside his teammates, Omar and Finau, with whom he previously trained in Thailand as part of the World Aquatics program.
Kyle Samuelson, Bond’s Director of Swimming, attributes the success of the program to three key factors: “Committed swimmers, effective coaching, and fantastic resources and support from the university.”
“The program has broadened the perspective of our local swimmers,” he said.
“We are so fortunate in Australia to have such excellent facilities, and having the World Aquatics swimmers has really added a new level of cultural awareness to the squad.”
With an impressive blend of international experience and local talent, the Bull Sharks are primed for even greater success in the year ahead, and the energy and diversity of this new cohort are sure to push the team to new heights in the pool.
Sangay Tenzin
21
Bhutan
Freestyle, Butterfly
“This is my fifth year as a part of World Aquatics, it’s great to be back training with a few of my teammates who I used to train with in Thailand.”
Marina Abu Shamaleh
19
Palestine
Breaststroke
“I think the program has been great, racing people with similar goals and alongside some Olympians!”
Siwakhile Dlamini
19
Swaziland
Freestyle
“My biggest goal is to break some national records and swim towards making the LA Olympics.”
Andrea Becali
20
Cuba
Freestyle
“The program has been great so far, I hope to be able to elevate my swimming.”
Omar Abbass
25
Syria
“It’s very exciting to be back at Bond for another year, it's the best facility I have ever trained at, and I am thankful for the coaches and my teammates.”
Lanihei Conolly
18
Cook Islands
Breaststroke
“I think the World Aquatics program has been such a great success so far due to the coaches, they’ve definitely put a lot of time and effort into each of us.”
Finau Ohuafi
21
Tonga
“Training here so far has been amazing, it's still new for me and I’m taking in all the experiences.”
Still to come
Nika Tchitchiashvili
19
Georgia
Josh Tarere
24
Papua New Guinea
Enkhtamir Batbayar
20
Mongolia