The Australian Life Saving Team have become the first nation to win both Open and Youth Overall Pointscores at the same Lifesaving World Championships after comprehensive performances by both teams at the 2022 Lifesaving World Championships in Riccione, Italy.

Since the inception of the competition at the Lifesaving World Championships in 2012, no nation has been able to claim both Open and Youth titles at the same event.

The Open team won its second consecutive World Championships by a margin of 150 points over rival New Zealand, following a 37 points victory at Lifesaving World Championships 2018 in Adelaide, the last World Championships prior to COVID disruptions.

A four year wait, and lack of significant international competition, presented plenty of challenges to the Australian Lifesaving Team in the lead up to the World Championships 2022, however the Aussies produced one of the most dominant performances at a World Championship event, winning eight gold medals across Pool Rescue Events and collecting a further 13 gold across ocean and beach events.

Amassing an incredible 951 total points, Australian Life Saving Team Head Coach Kurt Wilson was elated with the teams ability to consistently produce across key moment.

The Australian Youth Life Saving Team completed their own dominant campaign in Riccione, finishing with their largest margin of victory at World Championships with a 278-point lead over second place New Zealand.

Accumulating 977 points over six days of competition, the Youth Team won 17 gold medals, led by a dominant group of female athletes who claimed eleven of those golds and a Youth World Record in the pool.

Australian Youth Lifesaving Team Head Coach Craig Holden expressed his pleasure with consistent performers across the entire team.

The Lifesaving World Championships will next be held in 2024, where over 40 nations will compete on the Gold Coast, Australia.