Kiera Gazzard

Biography

Kiera Gazzard, a standout in the world of artistic swimming, discovered her passion at just eight years old when she watched a synchronized swim team practice at her local pool. Instantly captivated, she joined a 'come and try' session and quickly found herself on the U12 team. Growing up in the Sydney Emerald Synchronised Swimming Club, Kiera later transitioned to the Gold Coast Mermaids Club in Queensland, a move that allowed her to amplify her skills and compete on a larger stage.

In 2017, Kiera made waves as part of the Australian team at the FINA World Championships, where they bested Egypt, a significant rival, for the first time in six years. This victory was a monumental achievement in Australia's journey towards Olympic qualification. Ambitious and dedicated, Kiera set her sights on becoming the first Australian soloist to compete at the Junior World Championships. Her dream was realized in 2018 when she participated solo, and also took part in duet and team events, which honed her skills for senior-level competitions.

However, her journey hasn't been without its challenges. In 2019, Kiera faced a severe setback when she sustained a concussion just before the FINA World Championships, an essential Olympic qualifying event. Despite her dismay at not being able to compete, she supported her team from the sidelines as they secured qualification.

Kiera's perseverance paid off when she made her Olympic debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, helping her team to a commendable ninth-place finish. In 2023, Kiera continued to showcase her talent at the Aquatics World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, excelling in both the technical team and duet events.

With major historical feats under her belt, such as helping her team reach the world championships final for the first time since 2007 and finishing in the top 20 in the technical duet, Kiera remains a beacon of talent and inspiration in Australian artistic swimming.