THINGS just keep getting better for young Portland swimmer Ella Matters who has returned from representing School Sports Victoria with a gold medal in hand.

Performances at previous school sport events qualified Matters for team Victoria in the National School Sport Championships which was held in Sydney across last week.

Competing with an entirely new group in the Olympic-sized Sydney pool was a huge success for Matters who managed to earn a gold medal in the medley handicap relay event.

The success wasn’t limited to just gold throughout the week as she also finished top 10 in all of her races as well as locking in some personal best times.

Her biggest accomplishment from the five days was securing three times that have qualified her for National Championships in April next year.

“I got all three of my national times, that was my biggest highlight was getting those,” she said.

“It’s held next April or around then so that was a relief to get those. They release new qualifying times each year and you have to get them.

“Last year I only got two national times and was one second off the 200m but this time I got it within three seconds.”

While the highlight was securing times for nationals next year, taking home the gold medal for the handicap medley relay was another exciting moment for Matters and her team.

The handicap relay was a six by 50m event with six teammates aged between 12 and 17-years-old competing in one team.

“I swam second and probably didn’t swim the best but didn’t matter,” she said.

“In the last lap we were coming fifth and then the last person just bought it home on the last lap to come first in 0.2 seconds.

“I couldn’t tell because I was on the other side of the pool and didn’t know where we were, but it looked like we were going to medal so I was so excited.”

The championships ran from Tuesday through to Saturday for Matters who competed in six events throughout her time in Sydney.

The professionalism of the Olympic-size pool as well as the grind of consistent events was another step up for Matters who has seen consistent improvement in her performance recently.

“The pool was so good – it was amazing and definitely one of the best pools I’ve ever been to,” she said.

“On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I had one event then had an excursion on Friday before three events on Saturday.

“I have no idea how I had energy, I think you just do it, you don’t feel that tired once you’re there because the adrenaline hits.”

In terms of her improvement, she says she has no idea how she’s managing to perform so well on the big stage, but a level up in training might have something to do with it.

“It does just keep on giving, I’m kind of waiting for a dull moment because it just keeps on giving but it’s bound to slow down at some point,” she said.

“I think going from not much training to full on training in Warrnambool has made a big difference.”

The grind doesn’t stop after the trip to Sydney though, with Matters attending the States Age Championships in Melbourne across today, tomorrow and Sunday where she will compete in eight different events.