Budding swimmer juggles school and pool

MARK DWYER/Taranaki Daily News

FLYING START: Young achiever Dylan Dunlop-Barrett is at home in the pool.

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Disciplined, dedicated, committed ... they are all words that could aptly describe Dylan Dunlop-Barrett.

When it comes to juggling his day, the 18-year-old knows exactly where he will be at certain times, cramming morning and afternoon pool sessions into a busy school life.

Toss in five NCEA exams and a scholarship exam and it's no wonder the Francis Douglas Memorial College year 13 student has to be organised.

Earlier this month, the talented young swimmer and surf lifesaver was the winner of the male sports achievement award in the New Plymouth District Council's Young Achievers Awards.

The awards celebrate the achievements of young people aged from 12 to 24 in any of 10 categories. "It's always busy, but that's all good," he said.

"I'm in the middle of exams. I've had two [economics and chemistry] and I've got three to go [physics, stats and calculus] plus an economics scholarship exam.

"I'm winging it a bit, but I hope they'll go well."

Dunlop-Barrett admitted to "cramming as much as possible into every day".

His weekdays start early – he's up at 4.30am and leaves home near Oakura soon after.

"I'm at the pool [Bell Block] and into the water at 5.30am. Training goes for two hours. There's a group of us who have breakfast together at the pool and from there it's straight to school," he said.

"I try to fit all my study in at school ... just pay attention in class and don't nod off.

"Sometimes it's a challenge, but you just push through it. Then it's back to the pool from 4.15pm to 7pm."

From there he heads home, has a bite to eat and heads to bed.

"The weekends are spent racing or studying ... or hanging out. A bit of recreation like heading to the beach or doing something else."

There won't be any slacking over the next year, even though his school days are over.

"I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing. I'm thinking of heading to Aussie to do some training and I'll do a couple of business-type papers extramurally through Massey University," he said.

"My main focus, however, will be on my swimming. I'll do a bit of surf lifesaving on the side ... it goes hand-in-hand with swimming."

Dunlop-Barrett has had an outstanding year both in the pool and on the beach.

He collected an amazing number of Taranaki swimming records – 17 short-course and 21 long-course marks.

He holds the New Zealand age-group records for 17-year-old boys in both the short and long course 1500m freestyle.

Last year, Dunlop-Barrett represented New Zealand in the Oceania championships and was also part of the New Zealand trans-Tasman team for the under-17 grade where he broke the New South Wales all-comers record for 800m freestyle.

He also represented New Zealand on the Pacific Island of Guam at one of the world's premier junior events – the Junior Pan Pacific championships – placing an impressive and creditable fifth and sixth in events.

- © Fairfax NZ News