By Matt Austin

The Hills Shire will be represented on the world stage this year, with local open water swimmer Daniel Carter and coach Josh Stapley from Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre earning Australian team honours following standout performances at the national level.

Carter has been selected in the Australian Junior Dolphins team to compete at the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Junior World Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina, this September. In a proud double achievement for The Hills, Waves Head Squad Coach Josh Stapley has also been appointed Team Coach for the Australian Junior Team.

Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne, congratulated the pair on their selections, describing the achievement as an inspiration for aspiring young athletes across the region.

“What an incredibly exciting time for both Daniel and Josh, and for young local athletes aspiring to become Australian Swim Team members and future Olympians. I am thrilled that Waves could play a part in their stories,” Mayor Byrne said.

“It’s fantastic that we have a community facility in The Hills that fosters talent like this. Since we upgraded the centre in 2022, Waves now features a FINA-standard Olympic-sized pool, multiple training and leisure pools, and state-of-the-art fitness, spa, sauna and steam room facilities that support athletes at every level.”

At the championships in September, Carter will compete in the 18–19 years 10km event, as well as the 3km knockout and 4×1.25km relay events.

His selection follows an outstanding performance at the 2026 Australian Open Water Championships, where he claimed first place in the Under-19 10km race and finished eighth overall in the open age category. He also placed 11th in the Open 3km knockout, eighth in the Open 4×1.5km relay, and first in the Under-19 5km race.

Carter’s strong form has also earned him selection in the Senior Australian Open Water Team for the second and third rounds of the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup later this year.

The Baulkham Hills resident said representing Australia was a proud and rewarding milestone after years of dedication and perseverance.

“Representing Australia for the first time is something I’ve been working towards for many years,” Mr Carter said.

“Two years ago, I fell short of making the Australian team, so this selection feels especially rewarding. It’s the result of a lot of hard work, persistence and belief when things didn’t go my way.

“There were moments when I had to reset, refocus and really lift my standards, and this opportunity shows that sticking with it does pay off.”

Head Squad Coach Josh Stapley said his own appointment as Team Coach for the Australian Junior Team was both a personal milestone and a shared achievement.

“Being selected as a national team coach is a huge honour and something I’ve worked towards for a long time,” he said.

“What makes it even more special is being able to do it alongside Daniel after years of working together. Seeing his growth and resilience has been a highlight of the journey.

“This selection feels like real validation for the work that’s gone into building our program and pushing standards every day.”

The dual Australian team selections highlight the strength of local talent and the high-performance pathways being developed within The Hills Shire through Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre.