Busselton Jetty Swim: Kyle Lee takes out first place for second time

Australind teenager Kyle Lee has started his swim season on a high note, once again taking out gold in the Busselton Jetty Swim.

Lee crossed the finish line in a record 38 minutes and 59 seconds, beating his two friendly rivals Adam Sudlow and Kaiden Richings by just seconds.

The 19-year-old’s win is his first for the season when he put in a mature and calculated swim in some windy conditions.

Lee said he was “excited” to be the first make land at the Busselton Foreshore, sprint up the sand ahead of everyone else.

“It’s pretty awesome to get the win, I’ve done this nine times in the past and every time I come back it’s a great atmosphere and swim,” he said.

“This year was again a great day, it was a bit choppy towards the end of the jetty because of the wind but it was overall really beautiful out there.

“Myself, Adam and Kaiden all train together so I think the main thing which help us all do so well was just being dedicated to training and spending lots of time in the water.”

Coming in second, Ludlow said the friendly rivalry between the trio was “definitely” a push for each to do their best and secure bragging rights.

“It’s great out on the water and to do it with friends makes it even better,” he said.

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“This is probably the safest open water swim you can do, it’s along the jetty, paddlers every 50 metres or so, so I’d really encourage anyone to give it a go.”

After basking in their day’s success the trio will now turn their focus on the Australian Open Water Championships in Adelaide and the Rottnest Channel Swim.

Lee — whose family still lives in Australind, while he spends his weeks in Perth for training and university — was named in the junior Australian team after top-four finishes in the 10km and 5km races at the 2021 national championships.

He is now too old to make the junior squad but said he hoped to make the open team.

“It would be awesome to get selected (in the open team), but I don’t know if I am up for that level yet, we’ll have to wait and see,” he said.

“I’m not too sure (how I’ll go), I’ll just give it a crack and see how things turn out.