At just 16 years and four months, Springwood's Matthew Wilson was the youngest breaststroker to dive off the blocks at last week's Australian Swimming Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
But age proved no barrier for the talented teen up against some of the nation's best swimmers in his favourite event, the men's 200 metres, on April 7.
Having finished 11th at last year's nationals and heading into this one ranked seventh, the Winmalee High School student won his heat in 2:15:28 and then raised the bar in the second semi-final by coming from behind to finish first in a personal best (PB) time of 2:13:33.
In doing so he broke his own national age record (2:14:18) that he'd set at the NSW Open last month, which had previously been in place for 18 years.
An almost as quick swim in the final (2:13:92) secured him fourth place overall, with bronze medal winner Joshua Tierney, 19, finishing just 0.26 of a second faster.
Nicholas Schafer, 23, won in 2:12:47.
Proud mum, Maree, who watched on from the stands, told the Gazette what's really exciting is her son is still growing, rapidly.
"[We've got a] scary grocery bill!" she said.
Wilson also scored PBs in the 100m breaststroke heat (1:02:65, finishing seventh) and semi-final (1:02:31, finishing 11th) and he reached the semi-finals of the 200m individual medley, finishing 11th, and the 400m individual medley, finishing 10th and progressing to the B Final where he finished second.
"Getting PBs at nationals . . . you just can't put that feeling into words," Wilson told the Gazette on Saturday. "It was unbelievable, to do it in front of a big crowd and such a great atmosphere at my home pool [Sydney Olympic].
"It was great having my parents there too. They came down to watch each session."
"I've still got to work on my backstroke, but I'm the fastest in breaststroke."
There's no time to rest for Wilson, with the Australian Age Swimming Championships taking place this week at the aquatic centre.
"It's a quick turnaround, but I'm feeling okay," he said.
"I got four golds and one bronze in it last year, so I'm hoping to go as well as that.
"The event is also a selection trial, so a good result would put me in contention for a place in the Australian team that will go to the Junior World Championships in Singapore and the Junior Commonwealth Games in Samoa this August and September."