Sydney Catholic Schools’ Three to Watch!
A talented trio of Sydney Catholic Schools alumni will take to the pool at the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Here we look at how each found themselves set to make a splash on the world sporting stage. We will be proudly cheering them on!
Se-Bom Lee
This will be Se-Bom Lee’s second Games, having competed in the 400m individual medley at the Tokyo games.
The St Martha’s Catholic Primary School Strathfield alumnus secured a place on the team for Paris at the Olympic trials in June, finishing second in the 200m backstroke with a time of 1:57.02.
Lee medalled in the men’s 200m medley at both the 2024 Aus Championships (bronze) and Olympic trials (silver). Incredibly, since completing school he has balanced competitive swimming with completing a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Science and Engineering. What a high achiever!
Olivia Wunsch
A former student of Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School North Ryde, Olivia, aged only 17 received a 2024 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship this year. There’s no doubt she has a bright future in swimming to look forward to having clocked personal bests in the 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 100m freestyle at an Olympic qualifier event.
Her performance in the 100m freestyle event secured her place on the Paris relay team. We have a feeling this is just the beginning for Olivia and we can’t wait to see her swimming talent in action.
Holly Warn
Ever wondered who the youngest member of Australia’s Paralympic swim team? It’s the spectacular Holy Warn who at 15 has secured her place on the team having placed 3rd in the 400m freestyle in the S7 class at the Paralympic Trials. on.
The former Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Mosman student won four gold medals – in 100m and 50m backstroke and 400m and 100m freestyle events – and one silver in the 50m freestyle in her S7 division at the 2024 Australian Age championships.
Now based on the Gold Coast, Holly was breaking swim records competing with the under 13s at age 8. She was also the youngest ever swimmer to trial for the Paralympics at just 12-years-old. Go, Holly, go! We’ll be watching and cheering you on every stroke of the way.
Inspiring the next generation
“Hopefully seeing SCS alumni like Holly, See Bom and Olivia competing at the Olympics in Paris, can inspire another generation of SCS students to achieve their personal best.” – Declan Donohue
At Sydney Catholic Schools, we love to help our students flourish in the sport they love at all levels.
The early promise of both Olivia and Holly as young athletes was acknowledged back in 2017, when both received Sydney Archdiocesan Primary Sport Awards – Olivia while in Year 5 and Holly while in Year 2.
The awards recognised young athletes from a pool of 116 Catholic primary schools who excelled at sports during the school year, including at state-level competitions.
Sydney Catholic Schools Manager of Sport, Declan Donohue said it was extremely exciting to see SCS alumni competing on the world stage and at the pinnacle of the sport.
“Their place on the Olympic swim team is a testament to a lot of hard work, discipline and skills over many many years and we hope that their primary days in our schools assisted in nurturing their goals,” he said.
“Hopefully seeing SCS alumni like Holly, See Bom and Olivia competing at the Olympics in Paris, can inspire another generation of SCS students to achieve their personal best in whatever sport they choose. At SCS, there is a sport for everyone.
“We will all be cheering them on.”
