Finally, after four slow burn days, our Bromance blazed back in full flame. Keep reading for more on the boys’ faithful promises to stay for each other’s finals and write each other’s initials on their backs 👀

Splash and dash time!! The Yeronga Yochis (not sponsored…but should be) opened the morning with some zooming 50 Frees. Neve and Macca led the charge showing the great work they’ve done with Maxine over the past 12 months. Toby continued to show Toby how fast Toby can be with a great swim when his head was down!!

Alex A earnt the yochi’s their second final of the meet BUT learnt how important it is to stick to the strategy rather than just send it. Lola continued her amazing freestyle form, breaking into the 28s, while Jess—fresh off last night’s hype—narrowly missed hers. Layla shook the cobwebs off with a nice sub 30 swim (and a reaction time PB!!) but all eyes are on her 200 fly later. Maggie backed up yesterday’s big day with a swift 50 Free, motivated by the promise of a Whopper burger (or 3), just missing out on a PB. Grace stormed through her individual 50 Free, getting the job done in 30 seconds, followed in style with Milli’s laser focused speed.

The boys were faced with the monumental task of meeting the girls’ high standards. First up, our much-hyped Bromance made their long awaited return. Lewis lead the charge, smashing out yet another 25, followed by Archie, who scored his first ever individual National qualifying time!! Slay, diva. Big Will was up next with a solid PB, followed by Iggy, with his first ever sub-29 swim!!

Finally, Vicky powered to the wall in a 30.0, putting together one of her most efficient races ever! Exit Mitch, whose black T-shirt fuelled Toby’s superstitions this morning. Thanks for your service on 50 rates, Mitchyboiii 🫡

Sadie came and conquered the day’s first form stroke event with a PB in the 100 Breast, and for extra fun, her first 50 split was also a 50 PB!

Layla kept the form strokes going with ANOTHER reaction time PB in her 200 Fly. She stuck it out to the end in a tough and demanding race, never breaking rhythm. Great effort, Layla—and even better to see her come out smiling after the pain.

After a lengthy break between events, the Bromance couple was getting restless and come to hang out with the coaches on deck. They used the time to assure each other of their devotion, discussing ways to show the world that their Bromance has continued to prevail despite four days of separation. Meanwhile, a relaxed Jess sauntered down and into a 100 Free PB, which Toby called ‘real swimming’. Keeping things exciting, our Bromance stepped up in consecutive heats, both in Lane 2. Archie continued riding the high of his 50 and earned himself another spot in a final tonight, with a PB just 0.01 over the National QT. Lewis tried to match his soulmate in the following heat, also swimming a PB, but just missing out on that final. Nevertheless, the Bromance will prevail, with Lewis vowing to cheer him on poolside tonight.

Finishing out the eventful morning was Sadie with the 200 Back. With a still broken foot, deaf in one ear, Sadie left it all out in the water, along with another PB.

And we were back for another night of finals, with 3 Yochis hitting the water for the 50 Free. Alex “A+” Anthony came in ready to rock her first ever State final, with a particular focus on reducing her breath count. She walked away having climbed the rankings one spot higher, with a new race plan for her next 50 Free. Feeling fast and furious, Archie was up next with his first of two finals for the night, introducing himself to the camera—and the audience watching from home—with a heart. Carrying that bold, brave energy into his race plan, Archie realised his solution to his pause breathing was simple: don’t breathe! And so with 1 breath at 40m he smashed out his first final of the night, finishing 8th (6th Queenslander). Vicky showed up and showed why girls have more brains than boys and put together her lowest stroke count 50 ever!! And fixed a problem we‘ve been trying to solve for 12 months—couldn’t be prouder, and couldn’t be happier we survived Schoolies (kind of).

After a long break, Cometh the man, Cometh the hour. With only 0.4 separating 3rd to 8th on paper, it was anyone’s game. 0.01 off his second national qualifying time this morning Archie was out 0.10 slower in the first 50. Mitchy-boiiiii started panicking but Archie rallied, 0.70 quicker on the run home, 5th in Queensland AND ANOTHER NATIONAL QUALIFYING TIME.

Perfect perfect perfect end to day 4