The Journey Behind the Medals

Behind every medal is a story of hard work, early mornings and dedication. Through weekly boarding and a strong community, Lucy Ma is balancing swimming success with school life. 

Year 10 student Lucy has already built an impressive record in the pool. But she is quick to point out that her growing collection of medals is only part of the story.

"It's great that everyone sees people's success," she says, "but I find it's also really important to acknowledge what efforts go into that." 

Those efforts have helped Lucy establish herself as one of Victoria's leading young swimmers. A Victorian Age Group Long Course Champion every year since she was 12, she won seven national titles at the 2026 Australian Age Championships across breaststroke, backstroke and individual medley events. More recently, she claimed an impressive 11 gold medals at the Victorian Short Course Age Championships.

But achievements like these require more than talent. They demand extraordinary daily commitment, with training before and after school, careful time management and a strong support network.

Lucy laughs when describing just how much swimming dominates her life.

"I live at the pool." 

A Boarding Experience That Makes Every Hour Count

To balance the demands of swimming and school, Lucy and her family chose MLC's weekly boarding option, staying in the Boarding House during the week and heading home on weekends. Her family lives in Melbourne and, while boarding had not initially been on their radar, it quickly proved to be the practical solution to an increasingly busy schedule. 

"I didn't even know that such an urban place, like Kew, had a boarding house," she says.

The arrangement has allowed Lucy to make the most of every day. Instead of spending hours commuting, she can focus on training, study, rest and recovery.

A typical weekday begins just before 5.00am, with an early morning snack, training, classes, afternoon training, study and an early night before doing it all again the next day.

"If I was at home, I'd have to wake up super early," she explains, describing getting up at 3:40am. "My mum and I were thinking, 'This is not for me.'" 

While boarding provides valuable practical support, it has also given Lucy a strong sense of connection to school life and friendships alongside her training.

She was surprised to discover just how much the Boarding House offers, from structured study sessions to a wide range of activities.

"I didn't really expect that because I kind of thought you just lived there," she says. "I didn't realise there's also lots of activities as well."

Like any significant change, boarding took some adjustment, but before long, Lucy found herself immersed in the friendships and everyday moments of life in Tiddeman House.

One of her favourite parts of boarding is the simplest.

"We always have these conversations while we're getting ready for bed. It's so fun."

Lucy and teammates dive into the pool at MLC’s Aquatic Centre.

A Life in the Pool

Looking back, Lucy is sometimes surprised by where swimming has taken her.

“I don’t think, when I was younger, I would have imagined myself moving schools because of swimming.”

Swimming had been part of her life from a young age, but it wasn't until she was around 12 that she began to approach the sport with greater focus and purpose.

"I started investing more time," she says. "I started improving lots and I thought, 'Hmm, this isn't bad.'"

As her commitment grew, so did her results. Along the way, she developed a passion not just for competition, but for continual improvement.

Joining MLC in 2025 became an important part of that journey. Drawn by the strength of MLC Aquatic, Lucy quickly found a community that shared her commitment to swimming

"MLC Aquatic is such a close-knit circle of people. Everyone was so welcoming."

Her favourite event is the individual medley, a race that requires athletes to compete across all four swimming strokes.

"You have to be all rounded. You have to be good enough to sustain yourself."

Lucy’s medals from the 2026 Australian Age Championships.

 A Community Behind the Success

Her family remains one of her biggest cheer squads, celebrating every achievement with genuine enthusiasm.

"Every single time I do a good time or a good swim, they post it in the family chat," she says. "They always make me so happy."

Her friends turn up when it matters too.

"My friends come to my swim meets and they'll always carry big banners and they'll cheer for me in the stands."

At school, Lucy values the support she receives from teachers, mentors, coaches and teammates who understand the demands of balancing elite sport with academic commitments.

"My coaches and my swim team are like my second family because I spend so much time with them,” she says.

For all the success she has achieved already, Lucy remains focused on challenging herself and what comes next. She hopes to continue swimming at a high level and one day study overseas as a student-athlete.

"I'm definitely working towards places like world stages, international stages."

For now, however, her focus remains firmly on the work required to get there. The early mornings, training sessions, study periods and small daily improvements all play a part.

Lucy with one of the banners made by her friends.