Sixteen years on, she is now an Australian junior swimming champion.

Bailey, 17, recently topped off her winter long-course season, where swimmers compete in Olympic-sized pools, with a trip to Japan in August.

She won a silver medal in the 400-metre medley and bronze in the 200m medley.

The Merewether teen started swimming at six months.

When she was six, she made the mini squad at Arnold's Swim Centre and continued to move up the ranks until she was selected for the senior squad at age 12.

Now she competes at various Combined High School championships, state and national competitions.

This year alone she has broken five state records in backstroke, medley freestyle and butterfly events.

Bailey trains eight times a week at Lambton Pool, leaving only two mornings and one afternoon free.

She said although the sport was demanding, she loved it.

"I couldn't imagine my life without it," she said.

"It's not good on the social life, but it's given me good time management having to juggle swimming with everything else."

Last month, Bailey was nominated by the Hunter Academy of Sport to receive a Greater Building Society Olympic Sports Scholarship. She was one of 10 Hunter athletes to be awarded $2000 towards travel and training expenses.

Bailey will try out for the 2014 Commonwealth Games team in March.