Mount Maunganui Intermediate triumph in the pool

Members of the Mount Maunganui Intermediate swimming team, left to right, Xavier Morrison, Ruby Helm, Gus Shivnan, Zyleika Pratt-Smith and Tegan Sloan. Photo / George Novak

Hard work and perseverance definitely pays off.

Just ask the Mount Maunganui Intermediate swimming team.

Last year they finished second best swimming school at the 2016 AIMS Games.

In the 12 months since, the swimmers mentored by coach Scott Bartlett had just one goal in mind - to go one step further this year.

That dream became a reality this week when Mount Maunganui Intermediate finished in first place.

The success was built on a solid team performance with some of the swimmers who missed out on medals breaking personal-best times.

But the individual stars, who are all from Mount Maunganui Swimming Club, were Zyleika Pratt-Smith, (nine gold and one silver), Ruby Helm (five gold, one bronze), Lucy Bartlett (four gold, one bronze) and Gus Shivnan (one gold, two bronze).

Zyleika's nine gold medals broke the all-time AIMS Games record individual haul of eight golds set by Tarquin Magner last year. She also took out the 13-Years Division Three girls' title.

Last year she won the 12-Years Division Two girls' award after winning seven individual and two team medals.

"I feel really good about having the most medals out of all the AIMS swimmers. It is amazing. I did not really know what I was expecting," Zyleika said.

"It is pretty tough as I had race after race and didn't get a break. Probably the 200 IM was my favourite win."

Coach Bartlett said her performance was even more remarkable considering how intense the swim programme was.

"They literally have a race, then have about five minutes break and then race again. She probably swam 22 or 23 times in two days at a high level so you have to respect what she has done there," he said.

"You name it she got it. She got one in breaststroke, one in butterfly, one in freestyle, one in individual medley - she is pretty talented.

"It is an achievement that I don't think will be broken for a long time. At some stage she will have to choose between swimming and synchronised swimming because she is very talented at that as well."

Bartlett said the whole team was "pretty stoked" with the team title.

"It is a massive achievement. Those kids who raced for the Mount did an amazing job. I was pretty proud of them. Some of the results that came out were quite pleasing and quite satisfying.

"There were some signs about a month ago that they were swimming pretty well and that was quite pleasing to see. But it is difficult to know with what is happening in other parts of the country and who is doing well.

"It was more about giving them the right preparation, getting them set for it and then resting up last week, and giving them some race preparation work and seeing what happens."

Bartlett said he would sit down with the school administrators and reassess goals for next year.

"We will try and equal it or even try and go better."