Canberra's Bonnie Zhang is set for international competition in the Trans-Tasman Series at the AIS this week, but the 14-year-old swimmer could find her biggest challenge is from this side of the ditch.
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The series pits 70 of the best young swimmers from Australia and New Zealand against each other, but has split the Australian representatives into two sides.
Zhang will compete for Australia Gold coming up against her biggest rival, 14-year-old Alanna Bowles, swimming for Australia Green.
Bowles won five national age titles earlier in the year, leaving Zhang to settle for second place in the 200 metres, 400m and 800m freestyle.
It's not your regular meet though, with the aim to develop future swimming stars.
''We're preparing our junior swimmers for future Australian swimming teams and competitions. The series is eight days long - the same as at major events, like the Olympic Games,'' Swimming Australia high performance youth coach Vince Raleigh said.
''By putting the swimmers through a schedule of travelling and competing they get used to coping with travel, recovery and changes in environment.''
The three teams will race for points over six meets, taking them from Canberra on July 4 to Wagga Wagga on July 5, and finishing in Melbourne on July 7, with two meets in each city.
Zhang will meet her squad and coach today at a training session, with her first race on Monday.
The meet has previously unearthed Olympic swimmers Jayden Hadler, Thomas Fraser-Holmes and Yolane Kukla and Beijing gold medallist Bronte Barratt.