Kyle Lee balancing Commerce degree and sport as he eyes 2022 World Championship selection

19-year-old Kyle Lee, has started the 2022 season on a high, claiming two medals at the Swimming Australia Open Water National Championships, at the end of January. Having won the Busselton Jetty Swim, he headed to Nationals winning silver in the 5km and bronze in the 10km race.

Lee ‘s breakthrough season in 2021 also resulted in winning the Shelley Taylor-Smith medal for WA Open Water Swimmer of the Year, a highly prestigious award named after one of Australia’s greatest ever open water swimmers.

“I first started swimming when my family moved from Zimbabwe to Australia when I was six. My Mum and Dad thought that swim club would be a good way for our family to be involved with the community. I quickly fell in love with the sport.

“I used to play a bit of everything growing up. I played rugby, hockey and I used to be with a surf club back home in Australind.”

After high school, Lee moved to Perth for University, where he is halfway through his Bachelor of Commerce studies at UWA.

“I was doing four units a semester but have dropped down to three to balance training and study load a little better. WAIS has definitely helped support me with this, especially when it comes to sorting out my exam timetable for the semester.”

After an exciting weekend at the Swimming Australia Open Water National Championships, at the end of January, Lee said that his results at the competition would have to be his greatest accomplishment of his career to date.

“The 10km was pretty quick from the start. There were two swimmers from Queensland who alternated as the leader, but by the last kilometre it was just us three out in front. One of them went off and finished 15m in front and then it was neck in neck between me and the other guy till the end.

“It was a really close race. But I’m really happy with how the weekend went, with bronze in the 10km and silver in the 5km. “

With a training load that averages around 60-70km a week, Lee continues to train hard as he waits on selections for the 2022 FINA World Championships.

“Depending on World Championship selection, I might be doing the Rottnest channel swim, but I’m not one hundred percent sure what I’m doing yet.

“I would love to make an Australian Team in the open category and represent my country at an international competition.”

Photo: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia