Tennant's latest Gold Rush

Emma Rush is fast through the water. Gemma caught up with her on dry land and asked Emma about her aspirations

I've been swimming for about eight years, since I first came to Tennant Creek, I started swimming club when I was little. Swimming club has been going for a few years now, way before my time, in Tennant Creek it has. I don't know how long before I reach a professional level, but I have been swimming competitively since I was about 7 or 8 and I'm 16 now.
I enter the Club Championships here in Tennant Creek and I also go away to Darwin for State Championships and Australian Championships as well, so that's okay. I've been to the Pacific School Games in Perth in 1996, Arafura Games in 1995 and 1997 and the Arafura School Games in 1997.
My highest achievements have probably been in the Arafura School Games this year, that was okay, I got Gold in the Relay, Silver in the Freestyle and a Bronze in the Backstroke.
As a swimmer, I aspire to Susie O'Neil, she's a great swimmer and represents Australia and she's a good representative for all young kids. My ambitions as a swimmer are to keep fit and just to do well in the Territory, maybe even to represent Australia one day, but I might not get that far though, it's a good goal to have.
I like Backstroke and Butterfly, they're my favourite. I haven't been training much but usually I train after school and in the morning, since I'm doing Year 11, I've kept down with my training so I can finish this year. Someday I hope to reach a professional level. While I'm swimming I think about keeping fit, and about seeing all my friends again when I go up to Darwin and Katherine for Games when we all meet and mainly I just think about it as having fun. When I'm doing laps I'm thinking about just finishing that set and to do a good time when I'm training and I concentrate on my turns and my stroke to keep it all good.
In my age group I'm in the top five in the Northern Territory from the last carnival, so that's okay. I'm not sure what standard I am in Australia yet though because I haven't actually made it to the Nationals yet, so it's hard to tell. I will definitely continue swimming, it's something that I'm very passionate about.