Wunsch delivered KO punch at Metros

New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship holder Olivia Wunsch dominated at the recent 2026 New South Wales Senior Metro Championships held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, with the 19-year-old Olympic gold medallist winning each of the five events she contested.

Wunsch, who was named the named NSW Swimming 2025 NSW Olympic Program Swimmer of the year after her stunning anchor leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay team to seal gold at the world championships, took top spot on the podium for the women’s 50m fly, 50m back, 100m free, 200m free and 50m free events.

In a titanic performance Wunsch, who represented Carlile swimming at the meet:

• Won the 50m fly in a time of 26.65
• Took first place in the 50m backstroke in 30.48
• Won the 100m freestyle in her seventh-best career time – 53.90
• Sealed first place in the 200m freestyle ion a time of 2:01:40 – beating the field home by almost two seconds
• Secured her fifth gold medal by winning the 50m freestyle in 25.08

Wunsch, who was earmarked as an emerging star of Australian swimming following her epic performance of winning five gold and a bronze at the 2023 World Aquatics Junior World Championships, admitted to a group of school students while speaking at an Olympics Unleashed event that the last few years have been a whirlwind.

“The last few years has been pretty crazy and, yeah, I’ve definitely learnt a lot and grown a lot as an athlete – it’s been a bit of a whirlwind so far,” she said.

“But I think, ultimately, I just love racing and I love being an athlete every day and just sticking to my process and having confidence in myself.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS