Swimmer dips into pool of life
For WA's hottest new Olympic prospect, it is in the pool of life where she will ultimately sink or swim.
Brianna Throssell, named WA swimmer of the year on Saturday, understands her place in a sport filled with ego and determination.
While she is driven to get into the Australian team for next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she would not want it to define her.
The 19-year-old is studying physiotherapy and pre-medicine certificate at Notre Dame University and has a five-year ceiling on her swimming career, timed to end with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"I have expectations and goals but I never put too much pressure on myself," the beach lover said.
"If everyone becomes too outcome-orientated, they tend to just be focused on that and not the little things in training each day they could improve on. "I like to spread my time across a lot of things and enjoy life.
"Swimming is very important and I love it but it's not my sole focus."
Throssell will spend five years of hard work getting up at 4.30am every day, achieve everything she can in that time, then "live my life".
She will represent Australia in the 200m butterfly at the World Championships in Russia in July.
She won seven bronze medals at the youth Olympics last August and is in sizzling form, winning 10 State titles in January and breaking several records.
In February, she posted this year's then fastest 200m butterfly time in the world in South Australia.
"I'm ranked No.3 but it just felt awesome to swim like that," Throssell said.
"It gives you great confidence to be able to say, 'At one point, I was No.1 in the world', and on an international scale you don't feel as intimidated."
Her feat attracted international attention online in several languages.
Throssell, whose parents James and Karen are Perth dentists, cited triple Olympic _gold medallist Stephanie Rice _ as her idol and praised Notre Dame University's elite athlete-friendly program.
'It gives you great confidence to be able to say, 'At one point, I was No.1 in the world'.' " Swimmer *Brianna Throssell *
