Twelve-year-old Jack Munzer has broken a 34-year-old swimming record at Blaxland High School.
The year 7 student holds a new record for the 12 years 50 metre breaststroke. Jack finished the race in 40.59 seconds at the school's swimming carnival in February, fractionally quicker than M. Whitton's time of 40.70 set in 1985.
Principal Nikki Tunica said it was the oldest record at the school to be broken.
Jack couldn't believe it.
"I was surprised to touch the end first. I never knew I was that fast 'cause I haven't swum in ages," he said.
"I was shocked afterwards 'cause I never knew it was a good record and then I told my brother what the record was and he kept saying 'it's amazing'."
Eighteen months ago Jack had an operation on his feet, and spent a month in a wheelchair post-operation. While he's walking comfortably these days, he hasn't yet returned to swimming, soccer or martial arts, but after his record-breaking swim, his mum Dianna is on the hunt for a swimming coach.
The Munzer family only recently moved to Blaxland, and Jack used to swim with the Rooty Hill RSL Swimming Club.
Mrs Munzer recalls seeing Jack way out in front of others at the club when he was swimming breaststroke, even when he first started at age eight.
Breaststroke has always been his favourite stroke.
"I like it because it has a lot of movement in it," Jack said.
Jack has three older brothers who all swim and have gone on to compete at state level.
He missed out on competing at the school zone swimming championships recently because they were held at the same time as school camp.
