Georgia Courage-Gardiner

After being so close to an Olympics she could touch it without actually competing, artistic swimmer Georgia Courage-Gardiner is more determined than ever to do well in Paris.

Georgia went to Tokyo as an alternate member of the Australian team, a reserve in case another swimmer was unavailable. Although she was not required to compete, being part of the team was a terrific experience for the young Gold Coast athlete.

“The highlight of my career is probably training with the Olympic team every day,” Georgia said.

“To be able to travel to Tokyo and train in the lead-up of the Games is so special, especially to know how much hard work, physical and mental strength it actually takes to reach your goals.”

Indeed, while artistic swimming appears to be one of the most graceful Olympic sports, swimmers require incredible strength, flexibility, artistry and long underwater endurance. To make the national squad takes years of tough training and dedication.

Georgia was a dancer and a swimmer before she decided to take up artistic swimming after watching the sport at the London 2012 Games as a nine-year-old. Artistic swimming seemed to combine her two interests.

Within a few years, she had achieved success at national championships, been selected in the Youth National Team and competed at the Mediterranean Cup in Portugal.

Australia sent an eight-person team to the Tokyo Games, competing in the duet and team events – finishing 20th in the duet, Australia’s best result since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Georgia was part of the Australian team at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, competing in the team event and with partner Zoe Poulis in the duet.

The technical team of Georgia, Zoe, Hannah Burkhill, Carolyn Rayna Buckle, Kiera Gazzard, Alessandra Ho, Margo Joseph-Kuo and Milena Waldmann placed 11th in the preliminaries with a score of 200.7701 and improved to eighth in the team free final with 221.6416.

The duet is Georgia’s favourite event. “I love swimming duet,” she said. “It’s so nice swimming with someone you’re super close with and sharing the same goal and wanting the same outcome and training every day to reach that.”

In a dazzling display of aquatic artistry and athleticism at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Australia's Artistic Swimming Team captivated audiences with their technical, free and acrobatic routines to place ninth overall on 728.4358 points.

The team’s technical routine, inspired by a jungle adventure and set to Hans Zimmer's "Volcano," was meticulously executed. Scoring 235.9071 points and no base marks.

The team’s free routine, themed around the world of "Avatar" and set to music from "Avatar: The Way of Water," showcased a powerful and imaginative display that scored 280.5521 overall.

Their vibrant acrobatic routine, celebrating cheerleading with Alvaro Rodriguez Alvarez's "Move Your Body," demonstrated both enthusiasm and precision to earn a score of 211.9766.