The talented swimmer won three gold and two silver medals after originally only taking up swimming so he could surf.

Hoare, 11, finished his favourite event the 50-metre freestyle with a personal best time of 29.10 seconds. "Last year at the nationals I finished second so I was wanting to do better,'' Hoare, of Caringbah, said.

"It had been my best lead up this year and I thought I was in with a chance.

"The day before I had just been pipped by a Queensland boy in the 50-metre butterfly final.

"In the heats I swam well and went into the final fastest but I was really nervous as the same Queensland boy who beat me in the fly was second fastest.

"I went really hard in the race and was really happy to beat him.''

The national victory capped off a good year for the Laguna Street Public School, Caringbah, pupil who was .01 seconds off the NSW record when he took out the 10-years 50-metre freestyle event at the state championships earlier this year.

"I really like racing,'' Hoare said.

"I like doing all the different strokes at training as it keeps me motivated,

"I have good friends and we have a good time training except when it is really hard.''

Hoare wants to defend his state title and hopes to make the Pacific School Games teams in 2012.