Elijah Winnington

Fast Facts

• Date of Birth: 5th May 2000
• Birthplace: Gold Coast
• Nickname: Lij
• Sporting Idol: Changes a lot, but right now… Cam McEvoy
• Favourite Quote: “Advance unafraid“
• Biggest Challenge: overcoming Olympic disappointment.
• Greatest Achievement So Far: World Champion
• Favourite Food: Mango Sticky Rice

Elijah Winnington started swimming in a Learn to Swim program on the Gold Coast under Olympian Andrew Baildon and was like a fish in water from the outset.

When he was 9, he moved to a competitive club under Kyle Samuelson and Richard Scarce where he progressed all the way through to International level. Elijah recently joined St Peters Western Club where he is being coached by Dean Boxall. 

At the tender age of 18, Elijah had 26 National Age Championship Gold Medals under his belt. 

In 2016, Elijah Winnington made his first Junior International where he won a Gold and Silver medal and was named Captain of the Junior Australian Team which was an incredible honour. He went on to represent Australia again in 2017 at the World Junior Championships where he picked up 3 Bronze medals in highly contested events.    

2018 was an incredible year for Elijah where he defeated Olympic Champions in various domestic events and broke 2 Junior World Records. At the Commonwealth Games in his hometown, he won Gold in the 4 x 200 Freestyle relay as a rookie on a senior Australian Team.  

2021 saw Elijah qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m Freestyle where he went on to make the final. Elijah was disappointed in his individual result but was happy to bring home an Olympic Bronze medal as part of the 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay.

In 2022 Elijah rectified his Olympic disappointment and became World Champion in the 400 and since then, has gone on to win more medals at Commonwealth Games. With a great team behind him, Elijah has his foot full down on the pedal for success in Paris.