WHEN Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club last won a women's national medal, Ellie Johnson had not even been born yet.
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But on Saturday the 16-year-old broke the drought when she stormed to silver in the under 17 single ski final at the Australian Lifesaving Championships (The Aussies) on the southern Gold Coast beach of Kirra.
Senior competition squad coordinator Martin O'Brien said it was a historical moment for the south-west club.
"A lot of competitors have gone before her and haven't been able to achieve it so for her to do it is absolutely tremendous," he said.
"Our last medal was achieved back in 2001 when she wasn't even born so it's a really historic achievement for her and us."
Johnson finished the race in between Maroochydore SLSC pair Phoebe Wills-Grace and Tamarind Wildin-Snedden.
O'Brien said the teenager's medal sent her clubmates on the beach into a frenzy.
"I was at Broadbeach for the other part of the competition but I heard it was pandemonium with phones going off straight away," he said.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
