OLISSA Onley has proven to be one of the best surf life saving athletes in the country.

The Coffs Harbour athlete came home with two gold and two silver medals at the recent Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Perth.

The 18-year-old won the surfing event, and on finals day took second place in the individual board race in her age group.

She also teamed up in the 2km beach relay to win gold, and won a silver in the board relay.

The national champion moved to the Gold Coast in early 2022, joining BMD Northcliffe Surf Lifesaving Club, and has excelled under the coaching of former ironwoman Naomi Flood.

She was a member of Coffs Harbour Surf Life Saving Club up until the age of 11, then joined her brother at Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club at Kingscliff from the age of 12 to 17, when she was based in Coffs Harbour but competing for Cudgen.

In addition to her outstanding performances at the beach, she is also an outstanding performer on the track.

Onley has placed in the top five in her age group at track and field nationals on several occasions, in the 1500m and 3000m, which caught the eye of university coaches in the US.

She has taken up a four-year scholarship with California Baptist University in Los Angeles, which is one of the top performing distance running programs in the US.

Onley was really looking forward to college life in the US.

“I’m really excited, and I’m hoping to improve my running and combine athletics with study and get a degree, as I’m studying environmental science,” she said.

She said she preferred long distance running to shorter races.

“I’ve always just loved distance running, the training that goes into it and it’s more tactical,” she said.

“The race isn’t over quickly, and it’s a test of mental and physical strength.”

The surf life saving champion said she was enjoying the experience of being coached by a former ironwoman champion.

“Naomi has been great, she’s a great communicator and explains what she wants from you,” she said.

“She has a lot of experience with kayaking and ironwoman, and she has been a great mentor.”

Having success in a number of different sports meant the young athlete had a busy schedule all year round.

“It can get pretty hectic when it crosses over into summer and I do both athletics and surf life saving, but during the winter I get a bit more of a break with just athletics, but it’s still busy.

“Doing both It definitely helps fitness wise as I always have a base fitness level, and on a flat course like Scarborough at the nationals it helps as there wasn’t much swell at all.”

By Aiden BURGESS