A Golden Summer Of Success

By Duncan Horscroft on April 26, 2011 in Sport

Watch out Naomi Flood, Summer Walker is coming to get you.

This spritely 10 year-old has champion written all over her and her record this year alone would be hard to match even among the most elite senior competitors.

Summer joined the Bronte Nippers twelve months ago, after being with North Bondi for the 2008/2009 season, and in the two short years that she has been involved in junior surf lifesaving she has not been beaten in the surf swim at any carnival.

At this year’s NSW State Titles at Kingscliff, Summer won gold in the board, swim, board relay and was a member of the winning swim team.

Couple that with gold medals in the junior Forster Ironwoman, North Cronulla Ironwoman, Sydney Water Series 2010, Cronulla and Narrabeen carnivals, Dee Why and Freshwater Board Classics, and the Sydney Branch Championships and you have the makings of a surf superstar.

For her efforts she received the Sydney Branch Junior Rookie of the Year award for 2009/10.

The Year 5 Reddam House student comes from a strong sporting background with her grandfather John a former Eastern Suburbs first grade rugby league player and Bronte Surf Club member, while her dad Tom is a former state ironman finalist, also for the Bronte club.

Her uncle, Jim Walker, was a finalist in the K4 1000m at the Atlanta Olympics and is the current Australian kayak team coach.

And Summer’s siblings Tiger, 8, and Jesse, 11, are making sure their sister doesn’t get all the accolades with Jesse finishing second in last year’s junior state ironman championship and Tiger picking up a bronze medal for her effort in the wade event at this year’s state junior championships.

“Mum and dad have been really great helping me with my training and taking me to all the carnivals,” Summer said.

“And my school has been really terrific, helping me with my education and supporting me with my training on the beach and in the pool.

“Uncle Jim has also helped me with my board training.”

With her vast amounts of talent both in the pool and the surf it’s no surprise that she has her sights firmly set on becoming a surf lifesaving star.

“I want to be a champion ironwoman or pool swimmer,” she said, “And hopefully one day I will be on TV.”

Her training regime alone would have some of the best gasping for breath. She trains eight times a week in the pool and does both running and board training three times a week.

With that sort of dedication it’s no wonder she keeps getting the results and it should only be a matter of time before she achieves her dream of being a superstar.