William Petric is a swimmer who was awarded a Tier 1 Scholarship within the 2024 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program. He was paired with former Australian Rules footballer, Chris Judd, as his Mentor.
Hailing from Melbourne, known as Australia’s sporting capital, William’s upbringing kindled a passion for all sports. While golf was the encouraged sport in his household, William followed a different path, growing up playing Aussie Rules Football and wholeheartedly supporting the Richmond Tigers.
At the age of 9, William ventured into water-based sport and decided to try his hand at swimming. Joining the esteemed swimming club, Nunawading, William rapidly ascended through the ranks, participating in his first national event at just 11 years old at the Pacific School Games.
At the age of 14, William broke his first Victorian Record in the 200m Breaststroke and his first Australian Record in the same event, previously held by Olympic Champion Zac Stubblety-Cook. William’s focus eventually shifted to the Individual Medley, showcasing his proficiency in all four disciplines. In 2021, he secured a spot on the Australian Junior Team, though the COVID-19 pandemic deprived him of the opportunity to compete.
In his final year at school in 2022, William’s swimming results depreciated, prompting him to meticulously reconstruct the mechanics of his stroke with his team. His hard work paid off later that year when he clinched his first international medal in the 200m Individual Medley at the Junior Pan Pacifics in Hawaii, placing 3rd in the event.
Following his graduation in 2022, William was accepted to study a Bachelor of Law (Honours) at Monash University however, he decided to defer his studies to pursue his Olympic dream. In 2023, William is training full-time, with 9 swim sessions and 3 gym sessions a week, while also taking on a digital marketing role at Arena Australia.
At the 2023 Australian swimming trials, William placed 3rd in three separate events, narrowly missing a spot in the Australian Senior Swim Team. William was selected to represent Australia at the TYR Pro Series in Irvine, California as part of the Australian A-Team. As his first international senior competition, this provided William a valuable opportunity to be exposed to the high standards of world-class swimming. Rising to the occasion, he secured two bronze medals in the 200m and 400m Individual Medleys at this competition.
William aspires to continue his swimming journey until the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. The prospect of winning an Olympic Gold Medal on home soil serves as powerful motivation, driving his everyday dedication and progress as an athlete.
“Receiving a Tier 1 Scholarship from SAHOF is an absolute honour and privilege, I feel as if my tenacity is paying off. Being recognised by this prestigious organisation is astounding, I am committed to pushing myself to new heights in my swimming journey with SAHOF’s guidance and support.
The opportunity to work with Chris Judd is beyond incredible. Learning from such an accomplished athlete will be highly valuable, teaching me what it takes to be the best and how to handle expectations” – William Petric on being selected as a 2024 Tier 1 Scholarship Holder
Achievements List
- 2023: TYR Pro Series – Irvine, California 3rd Place in the 200IM and 400IM
- 2023: Australian Swimming Championships – Gold Coast 3rd Place in the 200IM and 400IM
- 2023: Australian Trials – Melbourne 3rd Place in the 200IM, 400IM and 200m Butterfly
- 2023: Sydney Grand Prix Gold Medal 200IM, Silver Medal 200m Butterfly and Bronze Medal 200m Breaststroke
- 2022: Junior Pan Pacific Games – Hawaii 3rd Place in the 200IM and 4th Place in the 400IM
Social Links | Instagram: @willpetric
