Sport: Merlin Australian Champion

Congratulations Year 11 Merlin Tzaros who last week became a dual Australian Champion, winning 2 Gold Medals at the School Sport Australia Triathlon & Aquathon Championships on the Rockingham Foreshore in Western Australia.

The just-turned 16 year old clinched his first title on Wednesday in the Aquathlon (200m swim, 2km run), becoming the fastest Senior (Year 11-12) schoolboy in the nation. His time of 9:19.38 secured him the Gold by 2 seconds, in a field of 33 racers.

The very next day, the School Sport Victoria Team Vic and VIC Triathlon State team member got his 2nd National Gold medal in 2 days, winning as part of the Victorian team in the Senior Triathlon Relay.

The Wangaratta West Primary School product and holder of 5 Upper Hume all-time Running records (1500m, 3000m, Cross Country), bagged 3 medals in a monster week. 

The first was on Tuesday, with a Bronze in the Triathlon. He completed the 750m swim, 20km ride and 5km run in under an hour (58:32.95) to finish 3rd of 33 competitors, behind only 2 Year 12 boys from Sydney and Brisbane. He is officially the fastest schoolboy Triathlete in Victoria (in fact he was the only Victorian in the Top 10), and the fastest Year 11 in Australia.

He is we think our 5th Australian Champion in the last decade. Last year, it was Year 9 Ruby Stevens who won Australian Gold in the K2 (Doubles) Kayak Marathon Doubles in South Australia. In 2021, Year 11 Jack Bolton won by 20m to easily win Australian Gold in the 400m in Sydney. In 2018, it was Year 8 Riley Corke who won Australian Gold in the XCO (Cross Country Olympic) Mountain Biking. In 2015, Freya Clarke won Australian Gold in the Cross Country Skiing at Falls Creek.

In total we have approximately 20 other Australian Champions that we can find on record, in Spots ranging from Skiing, Cycling, Pony Club, Golf, Aerobics and Mountain Horse Racing, Not to mention an Under 17 Girls Volleyball team. Full list to be published soon.

Wonderful effort Champ. We are all extremely proud of you 👏🏻.

Jud Mullins

Sport Coordinator