Jack Ireland has been swimming most of his life, he has competed at Virtus Global Games, Commonwealth Games and World Para Swimming World Championships and this year he will become a Paralympian.

Jack’s swimming journey started in primary school in Newcastle competing in school events and over the years progressed to national Championships, both at School and Swimming Australia multi class events.  In 2013 he moved to Gladstone where he swam with the Gladstone Gladiators. As Jack’s times improved he was identified by Australian coach Herbie Howard and soon qualified for his first National team the 2015 Virtus Global Games in Ecuador.  At 16, he made his first national team travelling to Ecuador where he swam the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events and the 400m and 200m freestyle relays collecting a Silver medal in the 200m relay.

The following year his family moved from Gladstone to Brisbane where he joined the University of Queensland Swim Club and met his current coach David Heyden. It was about this time that Jack started to take his swimming seriously, he competed at Age Nationals and the 2016 Rio Paralympic trials.

In 2017, Jack was selected as a member of the Australian Dolphins and toured the USA competing in his first World Para Series. In 2018, he was selected again in the Australian Dolphins team to compete at the Para Pan Pacs in Cairns.

2019  was a breakout year for Jack competing at the Virtus Global Games in Brisbane with his coach David Heyden by his side. And then the World Para Swimming Championships in London.  But just as his swimming career was taking off the World was hit with the Covid pandemic closing swimming pools all around the world and stopping competition.  It was a tough time for all athletes and particularly Jack, he managed to focus on his fitness and was able to get some valuable time in the water with open water swims off the Sunshine coast.

In 2021, Jack was keen to trial for the Paralympics, his two events were the 200m Freestyle and potentially the 4 x 100m mixed relay.  As the trials approached Jack had started to feel more and more confident that he had a chance, unfortunately he finished 3^rd in the 200m freestyle and 2^nd S14 swimmer in the 100m freestyle missing selection.  It was a tough time for Jack he had worked hard and had set his sights on paralympic selection.

The following year things started to turn around, he had outstanding results at Nationals and was selected for the 2022 World Para swimming Championships in Madeira, Portugal and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. He finished 4^th in Madeira in his 200m freestyle just behind fellow Australian Ben Hance.   Just prior to his departure for Birmingham Jack swam in a short course meet in Australia and over 3 days he smashed the Virtus World short course records for the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events.  Accordingly he went into the Games full of confidence and returned with another Bronze medal in his main event the 200m freestyle.

“The Commonwealth Games was a great experience, we didn’t swim till the last day, but it was wonderful being in the team and supporting and being supported by all swimmers” Ireland said.

Returning to Australia he took a short break and then along with his coach David Heyden started to plan for the 2023 World Para swimming Championships in Manchester. Jack swam well in Manchester collecting another Bronze medal and continued to lower his time.  Jack also collected a Silver as a member of the mixed relay team.

It was around this time that Jack began to believe “That anything was Possible”.

2024 has been an amazing year for Jack, setting a personal best of 1:53.  At nationals and then swimming well under the qualifying time for the 200m freestyle event at the Paralympic trials.  The disappointment of 2021 was well behind him, but he still had a nervous wait despite his 2 qualifying swims.  “I swam the 200m freestyle on Day 1, and even though I was well under the qualifying time I had to wait till the last night when they finally select the team, so I was a bit anxious.” Jack said.

That last night alongside all other swimmers Jack waited patiently and anxiously for the text message that invites him into the room where the swimmers were told they were going to Paris and shortly afterwards he emerged in uniform proudly holding his boarding pass as a member of the 2024 Australian paralympic team.

Jack knows his competitors well and knows it will be a tough swim but with his coach David Heyden alongside him he is confident he will be in top form, and as he now believes “Anything is Possible.

The Australian swim team will leave Australia for Paris on the 12^th of August bound for Chartres where they will go into camp before heading to the Paralympic village in Paris.  Chartres is a familiar location for the swimmers who have attended staging camps there in previous years.

Before the Games begin Jack will celebrate his 25^th Birthday with his team mates in the Paralympic village.  While his family will have to wait to celebrate his birthday with him, Jack will have a big family entourage (Mum, Dad, Aunties, Nan and a cousin) watching every swim and yelling encouragement from the grandstands.

Jack recently acknowledged Daniel Fox as his source of inspiration.  “My inspiration comes from Daniel Fox.  Foxy inspired me at the Rio Games and he was a mentor to me.  I hope that I could one day be like Foxy.” Jack said.

Jack is well on his way to being like “Foxy”, he is now a Paralympian and he is Australia’s fastest ever S14 200m freestyle swimmer.

Jack will swim his 200m freestyle heat and final on the 31^st of August.