Background
Australian Minna Atherton resides in Brisbane where she attends school and swims for the Brisbane Grammar Swim Club under Coach David Lush. The backstroker was born in the year 20oo
Early Success
In 2014, 13-year old Minna Atherton set a new National (Australian) Age Group Record with a 1:02.79 in the girls’ 12-13 100 backstroke, which broke her own National Record for 13 & unders of 1:03.04 set in December.
As a 14 year old, won gold at the 2015 Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Swimming Championships in the 100 backstroke racing to a 1:01.35. Just one week earlier, Atherton raced her Country’s best at the Open Nationals and finished 4th behind Australian National Teamers, Emily Seebohm, Madison Wilson and Hayler Baker. Her time at the meet, 1:01.18, was the second fastest in history for an Australian 14 year old.
National/International Competition
At the Fina World Junior Championships held in Singapore, Minna tied the Junior World Record in the 100m backstroke, and then broke the Championship record in the 200 backstroke.
Following up those swims, at the Queensland State Swimming Championships held in Brisbane, she broke the Junior World Record in the 100m backstroke with a time of 59.37.
She started the year 2016 off with a blast, breaking the Junior World Record in the 50m backstroke, first in the heats with a time of 27.73 and then followed that up in the finals with another new Junior World Record and a time 27.49.
2018 Short Course World Championships
Atherton garnered her first senior international medals in Hangzhou, where she helped team Australia to bronze medals in the 4×50 and 4×200 free relays. She also tied for 3rd with Brit Georgia Davies in the 100 backstroke.
2019 World Championships
Atherton continued to move up in her world placing at the long course world champs. In the 100 back final in Gwangju, Atherton pulled out a silver medal over a very tight field, touching 2nd in a time of 58.85.
Atherton then swam in the prelims of the 4×100 mixed medley relay, splitting 59.65 in backstroke, which went on to earn a gold medal in the finals.
Atherton finished with the 4×100 medley relay, swimming in finals and leading off in a time of 59.06 to help Australia earn silver.
Retirement
After placing 8th in the 100 back (1:01.22) and 6th in the 200 back (2:11.05) at the 2024 Australian Olympic Trials, Atherton announced her retirement from swimming.
As Atherton wrote on social media, “Swimming has personally never been just about the results and in more recent years it has become increasingly important to prioritise my own happiness and enjoyment of the sport and life outside of it. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities swimming has provided me, including traveling the world, receiving a scholarship to Bond University, graduating with my bachelors, moving cities and meeting some of my very best friends throughout it all.
“Over the past 13 wild years, I have accomplished so much that I am incredibly proud of. From joining my first junior Australian team at 13, making the senior team at 16, winning a silver at the world championships at 19 and breaking a world record at ISL. I’ve also been so incredibly fortunate to represent Australia at two Commonwealth Games, three Short Course World Championships and several World Cup tours.
“I am immensely thankful to everyone who has been part of my journey, for better or worse. A special thanks to everyone who has helped hold me together both physically and mentally over the last few years. It hasn’t been easy, but each experience and challenge has helped me learn and grow into the person I am today and I am so excited for all the adventures that await.”
