What started as a way to overcome asthma is now something which is taking Angus McDonald all over the world.
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McDonald will compete at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships later this year after a blistering performance at the recent Australian titles.
McDonald, who initially started swimming in Dubbo as a way to keep healthy, claimed the title of best in Australian for the under 17's age category when he took out the 100m final at nationals last week.
The youth who has been living in Sydney the past five years, despite his family remaining in Dubbo, will now go on to compete at the World titles at Budapest, Hungary in August.
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During the national final McDonald broke the 51 second barrier, finishing in 50.28 seconds.
The young swim talent says that he is going to have to be more motivated now than ever before.
"I train about 20 hours a week, I have to look at it as- there is always more places that I can improve," he said.
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"Straight after my race on Saturday [100 metre freestyle] I went straight over to the filming table and watched it back with my coach and we worked out a few areas where we could improve over the next few months."
McDonald has been working under swim coach Matthew Brown since he was 13.
"I'd heard of a really good coach, but I knew I would have to work my way up in order to work with Brown.
Most swimmers who make Brown's squad are a lot older than McDonald's 13 years.
I just had a bit of a natural affiliation with the water.
- Angus McDonald
Brown worked with swimmers a lot older, but when presented with McDonalds talent, he made a quick and unique exception.
"He had heard that I had been doing well and decided that it would be good to get me on his squad early," McDonald said.
The duo will now work together against the best the world has to offer, but even if there is no dream result there, McDonald says "it's not the end of the world."
"It's been a good experience and i'm only 17," he said.
McDonald started swimming to help improve his asthma and lung capacity.
"A lot of people take up swimming to help with an injury," he said.
But he quickly found within the depths of the waters, a brewing passion.
"I think I was in year two at Saint Pius X Primary School in Dubbo when I had my first race, and I done quite well.
"I was at the school carnival when I decided to go in the 50 metre freestyle, and I just had a natural affiliation with the water.
"I decided I enjoyed it so I kept training," he said.
In 2015, McDonald had his first major set back after having dislocated his shoulder.
"I was lucky, I had a really good physio," he said.
"I was out of the water for six months.
"Most people get back in too soon and just end up injuring themselves again and end up being out even longer."