By Cpl Alisha Welch
EVERYONE knows Australia boasts the world’s top swimmers and during the recent deployment of C Coy, 6RAR, to Butterworth, six infantrymen proved that Aussie soldiers, too, can cut it at an international level.

Pte Steven Whitfield, 6RAR, said during the rotation’s first weekend in country a group of soldiers stumbled across the National Malaysian Swim Championships, which were being held on Langkawi Island.

“We decided to watch the younger age groups swim and while watching we were approached by some organisers who asked us where we were from,” he said.

“When we told them we were Aussie soldiers they asked us if we wanted to register to compete. We then told them we could all swim, but not at competition level, and declined the offer.

“They returned about 10 minutes later and said they wanted an international field in the open level and offered us a free t-shirt if we registered – so, we did!”

He said at the start line the six soldiers were also informed that they would be racing against two swimmers who represent Malaysia in ironman competitions in Australia and one Commonwealth Games swimming representative.

Despite this added pressure, the 6RAR soldiers stunned the crowd when the race finished.

“We had taken most of the placings! Pte Sean Murray took out the event in first place, Pte Adam Noke came third, LCpl Mic Sutton was fourth, I cam in sixth, Pte Mark Adams was seventh and Pte Ciaron Tanzer won the Under 19s.

“In the true Aussie spirit we pooled the prize money and put it over the bar, spending the rest of the night posing for photos and talking to the locals.”

.