Roma student makes waves in the pool
Jemma Jones is like a fish in water when she gracefully dives into the Denise Spencer Memorial Pool for her daily training routine.
The 15-year-old Roma State College Year 10 student is making waves in the pool recently, after successfully beating five of her personal best times at a recent swimming carnival in Springsure.
Jemma began swimming at the age of four, heavily influenced by her strong swimming family.
"My aunty went to the Commonwealth Games and got 10th overall for the 100m butterfly and my family was all really into swimming and my mum wanted me to continue it and I did and now I have come this far," Jemma said.
"I went and competed in Springsure last weekend and swam five personal bests and have just been working on beating those times and beating my times and really pushing myself."
After having a season off from swimming, Jemma decided it was time to get back into the pool after moving from Blackall to Roma in February.
With a strong butterfly and breaststroke, Jemma is training hard in preparation for the Dalby swimming carnival this weekend.
"If I swim well at a carnival I try and beat that time at the next carnival and keep increasing my times," she said.
"For breaststroke I swim it in 39 seconds and for butterfly about 36 seconds both for 50m."
Jemma said her Blackall coach, Daryl Turner, was a big influence to achieving her times.
"I want to thank Daryl Turner for all his hard work and dedication to helping me get to where I am," she said.
Aside from spending hours in the pool, Jemma plays netball and touch football, a busy schedule for the teen to maintain.
"This week I have trained Monday, Tuesday morning, Wednesday and Thursday," she said.
"I got up 4.45am the other morning, because we live out of town, to train at 6am. I then go to school. They are long days but worth it in the long run."
This weekend Jemma will step outside her comfort zone and compete in the 800m freestyle.
Jemma's father, Shane, is a massive supporter of her recent success and hopes she can make the Queensland Swimming Nationals.
"I really would like to see her qualify for the Queensland Championships in Brisbane but I think we might be out of time, so it will definitely be a goal for us next year," he said.
"I am really proud of all the time and effort she has put in. Jemma has done a lot of hard work to get where she is today and has done a great job to be swimming PBs in such short amount of time."
Denise Spencer Memorial Pool manager and Stacey's Aqua Stars Swim School owner Stacey Roberston said Jemma had done really well recently.
"I think Jemma is doing really well with her swimming," she said.
"She trains really well and we have a really good squad at the moment and have a good combination of younger and older kids.
"Sometimes the older kids get in with the younger kids to help them and then they have to really focus on technique and that really helps them work on their overall performance."
Roberston said when Jemma trained she worked well on times and took on feedback to the best of her ability.
"I say to her to put in 85per cent she understands she needs to swim at that intensity to improve on her times," Robertson said.
"We have been talking lately about if you don't train well you are not going to swim well. I have also been taking photos of them swimming so I can show them where they need to improve. Jemma takes on anything you tell her as a coach and is a pleasure to have in the squad."