It's been a busy start to 2017 for F-Teamer Travis Mahoney with a move from Melbourne to Adelaide, quickly followed by his first South Australian State Championships, After 10 years at Nunawading Swimming Club, 26-year-old Travis moved to Marion Swimming Club after his long-time coach Rohan Taylor announced that he would be stepping away from the pool deck. it was a big decision to change training base and one that Travis agonised over.

"My entire swimming development happened at Nunawading so when Rohan first told us I was in shock. I just had to step back and look at my options and I decided that I wanted to find the best coach and program possible and it didn't matter where that was. I trialed with Michael Bohl in Queensland at St. Peter's and then in Adelaide. I also had the option to stay at home under new coach Scott Talbot (two-time Olympian for New Zealand). But when I weighed up each one I knew that Adelaide and Peter were the best option for me," Travis says.

 Funky Trunks Athlete Travis Mahoney

Travis is in good company at Marion as he starts the hard work towards Tokyo 2020. 100m freestyle Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers makes the perfect butterfly and freestyle training buddy for obvious reasons, Hayden Lewis and Ben Edmunds provide backstroke competition and Olympian Josh Palmer helps him refine his breaststroke. Mahoney values the caliber of his training squad.

"I think it's important because when you're tired or lacking motivation they give you that push. There are swimmers that I can train with and compete with on every stroke and it's good to have that, to have people to race and to chase. I'm a competitive person and I need that."

 Funky Trunks Athlete Travis Mahoney

South Australian State Champs was Travis' first hit-out since moving and he came away with title of Male Swimmer of the Meet - what a way to make sure everyone knew he was in town!

Next up for Travis is the Australian Championships in April where he hopes to make the team heading to the World Championships in July.

Check out Travis rocking the new Apex Predator suit on Swimswam here.

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