It’s been a medal winning six months for swimmer Alex Dunkley in both the pool and open water, results that have seen Swimming NZ select him for the Tri Series Squad in September, also for its Distance Camp in October and for the NZ team to the NSW Open Water Championships in December 2023.
 
He was selected in December 2022 as part of the Auckland Team to the NSW Senior State Age Championships in Sydney, placing, 3rd in both the 1500 freestyle the 800 freestyle. 
 
A few days later he finished 3rd over10km and 2nd over 5ks in the 17–18-year-old age group, at the NSW Open Water Championships at Sydney’s Penrith International Regatta Centre. In mid-January 2023, he swept the field with Gold medals in both the 10km and 5km open water races at the New Zealand Open Water Championships in Taupo
 
A week or so later, Alex had “a fantastic learning opportunity” at the Australian Open Water Championships in Busselton (Perth). He placed 4th over 10 ks among the 18-year-olds. He was 21st overall and just 6 minutes behind the winner. He was also the 5th 18-year-old over 5km. 
 
These events “gave me an opportunity to swim within large packs, observe swimmer tactics, practice feeding and of course deal with the Busselton stingers – they got me good!”

In April, he bagged a Silver in the 1500 freestyle at the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in. In the Age Group champs, he brought home three more Silver medals in the 1500 and 800 freestyle, and the 200 Butterfly.
 
He is aiming for the into NZ Open Water Championships and Australian Open Water Championships in January 2024 and to qualify for the Junior Open Water Worlds.