Australind’s Our Lady of Mercy College welcomes back former student Kyle Lee following Paris Olympics campaign

An Australind open water swimmer has returned to his former high school after competing in the Paris Olympics. Kyle Lee finished 13th in the 10km marathon swim in the River Seine on August 9, with a time of 1:56:42.5. After returning from the competition, the 22-year-old made a visit to Our Lady of Mercy College in Australind to meet students and catch up with his former teachers. Physical education teacher Terri Gann hosted a Q&A session with Lee, who discussed a range of topics from balancing swimming and school commitments to his life outside of the sport. He told students about the critical role preparation took in the lead up to his races, including a focus on nutrition. “Carbohydrates like pasta and potatoes are really important because that’s what your body uses for energy during competition,” Lee said. The class of 2019 alumnus was inevitably asked about the water quality levels in the River Seine, which was a matter of contention during this year’s games. He reassured students the water he raced in was safe, despite some athletes having issues earlier in the week leading up to his event. While Lee did not get the chance to meet his favourite players from the US men’s basketball team at the Olympic Village as they stayed elsewhere in Paris, he did get the opportunity to meet Australian basketball star Patty Mills. “It’s amazing because you realise that these top-level athletes are just like you and me,” he said. Lee also did a tour of the school, stopping along the way to speak to students and staff.