Hayden Cotter is an open water swimmer and surf lifesaver who was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship within the 2022 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Hayden was born among the beautiful beaches of Queensland in 2001 and began swimming at Kallangur Swimming Club at age five. He then transferred his talent to the open water and was soon winning medals at age-group level.
He was selected for his first Australian team in 2018 after he won his age group at the National Open Water Championships, and two days later won the national open title in the 5km race, all while completing high school.
In 2019 he became a dual-capped international following selection in the Australian Dolphins Swim Team and the Australian Surf Life Saving Team, and earned multiple top 10 finishes at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju (KOR). That same year, he finished second in the 10km at the World Cup in Chinese Taipei.
2020 was equally successful. He won the junior 10km title at the National Open Water Championships, where he won silver in the open 10km, and he placed seventh at the World Cup in Doha (QAT). He completed the year with his third Pier to Pub victory.
Hayden has also enjoyed success in Surf Life Saving. He won several events while representing Australia in the International Surf Rescue Challenge in South Africa in 2019, and owns numerous medals from ‘Aussies’, the national Surf Life Saving Championships. In 2021, he was awarded the Dean Mercer Perpetual Trophy for achievements across the multiple disciplines of Ironman racing.
Away from swimming, Hayden is aiming for success in business and is studying a Bachelor of Business/Commerce at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
“To be a successful Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship Holder is something that means so much to me. I have seen the high calibre of successful athletes before me and have seen what they have gone on to do in sport and life. Now to have SAHOF behind me, I know I will receive the help and mentoring to take the next step in my career.” – Hayden Cotter on being selected as a 2022 Tier 2 Scholarship Holder.
“What you put in, is what you get out.”
Awards, Honours & Achievements
- 2018: Pier to Pub – Champion
- 2018: National Open Water Championships – Champion, 5km
- 2019: Pier to Pub – Champion
- 2019: World Championships – 9th, 5km, Open Water Swimming
- 2019: World Championships – 5th, Team Event, Open Water Swimming
- 2019: 10km World Cup Taipei – 2nd
- 2020: Pier to Pub – Champion
- 2020: National Open Water Championships – 2nd, 10km
- 2020: National Open Junior Water Championships – 1st, 10km
- 2020: World Cup, Doha – 7th, 10km
- 2021: National Open Water Championships – 3rd, 10km
- 2021: Surf Lifesaving Nationals, Open Ironman – Youngest male ironman competitor (Dean
- Mercer Perpetual Trophy)
