Two swimmers fly flag for their Dunedin school

Tahuna Normal Intermediate students Charlotte Underwood (left) and Madison Wills travelled 1308km to compete in the AIMS games. Photo / George Novak

Two lone swimmers from a Dunedin school have travelled the furthest of all the 8007 competitors to compete in this year's NZCT AIMS Games.

Clocking up 1308km, Charlotte Underwood, 12 and Madison Wills, 11, from Tahuna Normal Intermediate and their parents left home on 10am on Sunday in the snow, arrived at Auckland at 11.35am and then drove down to Tauranga arriving at 3.30pm.

Both girls competed in yesterday's Year Seven swimming competition at their first ever AIMS Games, the only discipline they competed in.

While other schools have big teams competing in a number of sporting codes, Madison and Charlotte were the sole athletes flying the flag for their school of 450 students

Charlotte said it did feel a "bit strange" when she looked around at all the larger teams.

"But I have really loved it, and will take home lots of fun memories," she said.

Both girls achieved personal bests in a number of their swims

Including Madison gaining an 11th place in the 200m breast stroke competition, and shaving 1.76s off her best time in the 100m breast stroke.

Madison, who is a junior national silver medallist in the 200m breast stroke, said: "Competition was pretty fierce. But we had a lot of fun times. I'd love to come back next year."

Charlotte achieved personal bests in the 100m individual medley, 50m freestyle and 50m breast stroke shaving 2.2s, 1.5s and 76s respectively off her past best times. The athletes were able to attend the AIMS Games thanks to a grant from the Bendigo Valley Trust and months of fundraising efforts.

Team manager Gina Wills said: "Charlotte and Madison have done themselves and their school proud."

-For more AIMS Games coverage, turn to pages 10 and 40.