© Copyright Gullivers Swim Gym Sport
THE search for a fledgling Aussie version of swim god Michael Phelps could be heading towards a little corner of Coomera, home of mighty minnow Max Muggeridge.
The Max factor is all the rage, with 12-year-old Phelps mini-me Muggeridge emerging as the alpha male at the Pan Pacific School Games in Canberra last weekend where he grabbed eight gold -- seven in Pan Pac record times -- and four silver medals.
The haul for Muggeridge (pictured), who trains under Terry Gulliver at Coomera's Swim Centre, is all the more impressive given he only took up swimming three years ago after getting sick of only being able to `doggie paddle'.
Muggeridge, who lists Olympic showstopper Phelps as his idol, was the standout performer of the 5000 competitors from 35 countries in Canberra.
After his 12 event splurge in the ACT, Muggeridge will target just nine in Brisbane -- the 100, 200 and 400m freestyle, the 100 and 200m breaststroke, the 100 and 200m backstroke, the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley.
While he will be 16 years old come London 2012, Muggeridge hopes to make a splash at least in the qualifying events -- and emerge as a major Olympic force in 2016.
The Gold Coast Bulletin
The Max factor is all the rage, with 12-year-old Phelps mini-me Muggeridge emerging as the alpha male at the Pan Pacific School Games in Canberra last weekend where he grabbed eight gold -- seven in Pan Pac record times -- and four silver medals.
The haul for Muggeridge (pictured), who trains under Terry Gulliver at Coomera's Swim Centre, is all the more impressive given he only took up swimming three years ago after getting sick of only being able to `doggie paddle'.
Muggeridge, who lists Olympic showstopper Phelps as his idol, was the standout performer of the 5000 competitors from 35 countries in Canberra.
After his 12 event splurge in the ACT, Muggeridge will target just nine in Brisbane -- the 100, 200 and 400m freestyle, the 100 and 200m breaststroke, the 100 and 200m backstroke, the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley.
While he will be 16 years old come London 2012, Muggeridge hopes to make a splash at least in the qualifying events -- and emerge as a major Olympic force in 2016.
The Gold Coast Bulletin
BRISBANE'S Aquatic Centre has turned into a lagoon of liquid gold for 12-year-old Coomera flyer Max Muggeridge who last night took his tally to four first places at the Queensland Championships in 48 hours.
With five events left to race before the shutters descend on Friday, the choirboy-faced kid with the killer instinct is fast learning how to duplicate the feats -- albeit on a micro-scale -- of his hero Michael Phelps.
Muggeridge was imperious as he struck first blood in the 100m backstroke, shaving 0.5sec off his personal best set at last week's Pacific School Games to romp home in 1min 04.86sec in a Gold Coast trifecta. Palm Beach's Jesse Whenuaroa (1:07.01) took silver, with St Hilda's Joel Brown third in 1:11.23.
He then backed up to take out the 400m freestyle (12 years), a distance he had swum only once before, in 4:32.11, a personal best by a full five seconds.
He finished ahead of Travis Monahan, with another Gold Coaster in The Southport School's Sam Horton third (4:39.84).
On Sunday, Muggeridge powered to victory in the 100m butterfly (1:03.17) and 200m individual medley (2.23.05).
The Gold Coast Bulletin
With five events left to race before the shutters descend on Friday, the choirboy-faced kid with the killer instinct is fast learning how to duplicate the feats -- albeit on a micro-scale -- of his hero Michael Phelps.
Muggeridge was imperious as he struck first blood in the 100m backstroke, shaving 0.5sec off his personal best set at last week's Pacific School Games to romp home in 1min 04.86sec in a Gold Coast trifecta. Palm Beach's Jesse Whenuaroa (1:07.01) took silver, with St Hilda's Joel Brown third in 1:11.23.
He then backed up to take out the 400m freestyle (12 years), a distance he had swum only once before, in 4:32.11, a personal best by a full five seconds.
He finished ahead of Travis Monahan, with another Gold Coaster in The Southport School's Sam Horton third (4:39.84).
On Sunday, Muggeridge powered to victory in the 100m butterfly (1:03.17) and 200m individual medley (2.23.05).
The Gold Coast Bulletin
