The younger sisters of Cate Campbell and Christopher Ashwood will compete at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in January.

Jessica Ashwood and Bronte Campbell are members of the next generation of emerging Australian swim stars looking to better the outstanding results of their older siblings.

Fourteen-year-old Campbell has set personal bests of 26.4secs in the 50m freestyle and 58.4secs in the 100m freestyle.

“I am looking forward to going away with a team, without my coach and seeing what I can do,” Bronte said.

Her older sister Cate dominated the 2007 AYOF when she rocketed into the top six in the world, winning the 50 metres freestyle in a time of 24.89seconds. She went on to win a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Ashwood’s big brother Chris won gold in the 1500m freestyle and bronze in the 400m freestyle at the 2007 Festival.

“I am really excited about it,” 15-year-old Jessica said. “This is my first international meet and it should give me an experience and insight about my competitors.”

The young swimmers attribute some of their talent to genes acquired from their parents. Campbell’s mother represented South Africa in synchronised swimming and her father played rugby at school, while Ashwood’s parents swam at state and international level.

The rest, however, is down hard work.

“I train nine times a week and each session lasts two hours,” Campbell said. While Ashwood’s hardest training session is on Tuesday afternoon when “we do 30 x 100m sprints and descend on each set”.

The budding champions love their sport and don’t mind the many hours of hard training. They are driven by the opportunity to wear the green and gold at the 2012 Olympic Games.

“I enjoy being in the water, getting up early to train and seeing all my friends,” Ashwood said. “Swimming really helps me to aspire – I want to make the 2012 Olympics and the AYOF is a big stepping stone for me towards this goal.”

“I love swimming – the training, the competition, the people I meet and the time it gives me to think,” Campbell said. “I would love to go to the 2012 Olympics, swimming either the 50m or 100m freestyle.”

“My brother Chris gives me a lot of support,” Ashwood said. “He tells me what happens at a team camp, if I have missed out, so I can continue to develop. He made the Junior Pan Pacs and competed at the 2007 AYOF. I feel good about following in his footsteps, I feel like I am going in the right direction.”

Campbell and Ashwood will contest their swimming events at the AYOF from 14 – 18 January 2009 in Sydney. They will be joined by more than 1,800 aspiring athletes from around the world competing across 21 sports. The AYOF is free for spectators and the Australian Olympic Committee invites the public to see tomorrow’s Olympians today.

2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival Swimming Team

(First Name Last Name Age Club State)

Male Athletes: Phil Butcher 17 Lane Cove NSW, Ben Edmonds 17 Norwood SA, Alex Gohari 17 SOPAC Swim Club NSW, Justin James 15 Mackay QLD, Luke Kerswell 17 Southside Aquatic QLD, Jared Killey 17 Hunter NSW, Mitch Larkin 15 John Paul College Aquatics QLD, Harrison Pullinger 16 SOPAC Swim Club NSW, Andrew Read 15 CA Tritons VIC, James Roberts 17 Somerset SC (Gold Coast) QLD, Nicholas Schafer 16 River City Rapids QLD, Sam Sheppard 17 Nunawading VIC, Kenneth To 16 Trinity Grammar School NSW, Daniel Tranter 16 Liverpool NSW, Dylan Wyatt 17 Bankstown Sports NSW

Female Athletes: Jessica Ashwood 15 SOPAC Swim Club NSW, Bronte Campbell 14 Indooroopilly QLD, Darthea Clydsdale 15 Brothers QLD, Leah Cutting 16 Norwood SA, Katie Goldman 16 Miami SC QLD, Whitney Ireland 15 Norwood SA, Kia King 17 Personal Best Aquatics Piranhas SA, Jessica Legge 15 Novcastrian NSW, Megan Mackay 16 St Peters Western QLD, Kelly Marquenie 16 Miami SC QLD, Nicole Mee 16 Uniswim SC NSW, Anastasia Osadchuk 16 Brisbane Jets QLD, Leiston Pickett 16 Southport Olympic QLD, Kacey Pilgrim 15 Bankstown Sports NSW, Caitlin Sinclair 15 MLC Marlins NSW

Head Coach: Leigh Nugent

Coaches: John Bladon MLC Marlins NSW, Anne-Marie Couperwhite Uniswim SC NSW, Michelle Morris Southside Aquatic QLD, Paul Sharman Novcastrian NSW, Tony Shaw SOPAC Swim Club NSW, John Thompson Lane Cove NSW