By Casey Oçonnor
Twenty-year-old Stanthorpe swimmer Ben Armbruster announced himself on the Australian Swimming stage on Monday night at the Australian National Swimming Titles at the Gold Coast Aquatic centre with a sensational swim in the final of the 50 metre Butterfly final.
Armbruster cut his swimming teeth in the Stanthorpe pool under the tutelage of coach Gail Smail and on Monday night Gail was pool side with his family as he lit up the pool setting an Australian All Comers record of 23.05.
Smail said Armbruster was beyond excited over his win.
“He (Ben) has been working really hard under his current coach Chris Mooney from Bond Uni and it is paying dividends,” his former coach said.
“Ben has grown in stature and matured as both a young man and a swimmer.”
It was not all smooth sailing for the new kid on the block. Armbruster was disqualified after winning his heat earlier in the day. His team appealed the disqualification which was for remaining underwater too long after the start.
While his support crew and cheer squad from Stanthorpe were worried Armbruster was not. “I know I’m okay” he told them and was more interested in going home for breakfast.
He was correct when the video was reviewed, he was reinstated, and his supporters took a deep breath and prepared for the final.
Armbruster is becoming a splash and dash specialist and in the final was off the block with a great response time and never looked likely to be headed.
Although the win is a great reward for all of his hard work it does not book him a place in the Australian team for the upcoming Word titles.
Armbruster has several more events throughout the meet and will be hoping his performances in the 100m fly will be good enough to see him with a place in the team.
He will also swim in the 50metre freestyle dash and the 100metre freestyle as well as the backstroke events.
No doubt there will be plenty of interested on lookers in Stanthorpe.
Ben is off to the University games in the not too distant future and will be looking to again improve on his performances.
