The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) has welcomed one of Australia’s most competitive swimmers, with Shayna Jack OLY OAM officially joining WAIS as a scholar after relocating to Western Australia full-time.
Jack’s move marks the beginning of a new chapter, both personally and professionally, as she settles in Perth alongside her partner, Joel Rintala, who is based in WA as part of the Australian Men’s Hockey Team.
For Jack, the relocation represents what she describes as a “new adventure in the West”, combining lifestyle balance with a focused, high-performance training environment as she builds toward her next major goal, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“WAIS has stepped up to the challenge of having me join their environment,” Jack said. “This move feels exciting. It’s a fresh chapter, but one that allows me to continue striving for my goals.”
While Jack maintains strong ties to her long-standing training environment in Queensland, including the Queensland Academy of Sport and coach Dean Boxall, her day-to-day training in Perth is now guided by WAIS Head Swimming Coach Ian Hulme.
WAIS’ tightly focused, individualised swimming program offers a setting that aligns with Jack’s experience, leadership and ambition, while preserving the foundations that have underpinned her career to date. Hulme said welcoming an athlete of Jack’s calibre was both a responsibility and an opportunity.
“Shayna brings an enormous amount of experience, professionalism and perspective,” Hulme said. “Our role is to support her as an individual while contributing to the strength of the collective team, and to create a performance environment that supports her to train with clarity, purpose and confidence as she works toward her goals.”
Beyond the pool, Jack has spoken openly about the significance of being able to live in the same state as partner Joel after spending long periods managing distance alongside elite sport.
“We have different goals as athletes, but the same focus collectively as a partnership,” Jack said. “Being together makes everything feel better, training, life, all of it.”
Western Australia’s lifestyle, from its climate and coastline to its tight-knit high-performance community, has also played a key role in the transition, offering balance alongside the demands of elite training.
As she enters this new chapter in the West, Jack is equally focused on the impact she can have beyond results. ‘I want to leave a legacy in swimming… I want to be part of setting the standard of what elite is, and help foster an environment that aims to succeed on the world stage.”
For WAIS, Jack’s arrival represents more than the addition of a high-profile athlete, it reflects the Institute’s continued evolution as a destination capable of supporting world-class performers at every stage of their journey.
Her presence strengthens the training environment, brings invaluable leadership to the program, and signals another step forward in WAIS’ commitment to building sustainable excellence as part of the Australian sporting landscape.
