Year 11 student Cooper Hudson has had a remarkable start to 2026, cementing his place among the country's most promising young aquatic athletes with two significant national achievements in recent months.
Selected for the Australian Youth Lifesaving Team Squad
Cooper has been selected as part of the Australian Youth Lifesaving Team squad in the lead-up to the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 (LWC26). Competing in the pool rescue discipline and representing Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club, Cooper is one of 42 athletes nationally chosen by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) for the LWC26 squad.
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The Lifesaving World Championships will take place in Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa from 25th November to 13th December 2026, where Australia will look to defend its World Title. The final team to represent Australia will be confirmed in August, with all squad members remaining in contention for selection.
This recognition is a testament to the dedication and consistent excellence Cooper has shown in pool rescue competition. Those who have followed his journey will recall his outstanding performance at the 2025 Queensland Pool Rescue Championships, where he claimed six gold medals and one silver across a range of demanding events. That performance earned him a place at the 2025 Australian National Pool Rescue Championships in Adelaide. It is clear that Cooper has continued to build on that foundation with great determination.
Cooper is also a proud member of the QA Surf Lifesaving CAS team. His commitment to lifesaving; both as a competitive athlete and as a community volunteer, is an inspiration to those around him.
Competing at the 2026 Australian Age Swimming Championships
Cooper recently took to the pool at the 2026 Australian Age Championships, held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in April. Competing in the 15–16 Years Boys 50m Freestyle and Relay, Cooper recorded a time of 24.17 seconds — a performance that placed him on the national stage against the best age-group swimmers in the country.
The Australian Age Championships is one of the most prestigious events on the Australian swimming calendar, drawing hundreds of elite young swimmers from across the nation and beyond. To compete at this level, in an event as demanding and technical as the 50m freestyle, speaks volumes about Cooper's speed, discipline, and commitment to his craft in the pool.
We look forward to following Cooper's journey as he prepares for the LWC26 campaign later this year and wish him every success in the months ahead.
Dion Obst
HOD Global Connect