Over the holidays Year 12 student Brooke Swan traveled to Hastings to compete at the NZ National Age Group Swimming Championships. As well as winning gold in the 200m Butterfly, she also won two bronze medals for 50m Butterfly and 100m Butterfly.

We have interviewed Brooke before as she has collected quite a few medals over the years for her outstanding results at various swimming competitions. In catching up with her this week, we learned more about her mental determination and drive that pushes her to keep succeeding, and why butterfly is her favourite stroke.

"I guess [butterfly is] like one of the toughest," she said. "If you're the toughest in the field mentally; all of swimming is a mental game."

"Sometimes I'm definitely not in the right head space and it's pretty hard to pull a good race out when you're not in the right head space," Brooke continued. 

"For me personally, I have to get out in front. If I'm out in front of the field, I'm in a good headspace. I'm like, 'ok, I got this,' because I'm like, too stubborn to let them pass. Most of the time, if I've got it from the first 25 [metres], I've got it. But if I'm behind, it's really hard to get there mentally," she said.

Brooke also noted that there are not a lot of people that do butterfly. "So it's like the people who do it are pretty good and the competition is quite solid, so it's nice," she said.

While Brooke cannot remember how many gold medals she has won, it has become somewhat of a regular occurrence for her to win the 200m butterfly every time she competes at a national level, something she has done ever since she was old enough to be allowed to. 

Brooke's results at the NZ National Age Group Swimming Championships were not a personal best, but she admits her results "weren't terrible."

"It was alright, it's not too bad, I'll take it," she said.

Her next competition is the short course nationals coming up, which Brooke noted is a much faster competition with a lot more turns. The swimmers still compete at the same distances, but they work hard to perfect their turns at the end of each 25m. 

Brooke's overall goal is represent New Zealand at an international event and she would like to make it to the Olympics. However, Brooke intentionally made the decision not to attend a qualifying event this year as she was determined not to miss school. From next year, Brooke will be working hard to qualify for opportunities to represent New Zealand.

Congratulations on your gold and two bronze medals Brooke! We wish you all the best as you work towards your goals!