Camden Haven’s Isabella Fede dominates discus and sets new Australian record

A RISING young athlete from the Camden Haven is making her mark on the national stage.

Fourteen-year-old Isabella Fede is breaking records in para athletics.

Isabella, who competes in the F21 classification in the under 15 women’s division, first discovered her talent for discus just three years ago while attending St Joseph’s Primary School in Laurieton.

Her mother, Heidi Zillwood, said the early signs were hard to ignore.

“The teachers informed me that she had quite a throw on her and could do well in athletics,” she said.

That encouragement led Isabella to join Camden Haven Little Athletics two years ago, where she added shot put and javelin to her skill set, although discus quickly became her favourite.

Isabella’s rapid progression saw her qualify for the All Schools Athletics Championships in Melbourne in December 2025, where she claimed first place in discus and third in shot put.

At just 13-years-old, she set an Australian record in both the under 15 and under 17 discus categories.

Her success has continued into 2026, with Isabella winning three gold medals at the NSW State Championships in Sydney in March, securing her place at the Australian National Championships in Brisbane.

Competing across all three throwing events, Isabella delivered another standout performance.

She placed fourth in shot put, second in javelin and took gold in discus with a personal best throw of 12.55 metres, surpassing her previous Australian record of 11.38 metres.

“When she won the discus Isabella said, ‘I can’t believe it’,” Heidi said.

“She had tears of joy.”

Beyond the medals, Heidi said the friendships Isabella has formed are just as meaningful.

“They all support each other on and off the field, which makes it fun.”

Isabella, a student at St Joseph’s Regional College, now has her sights set on qualifying for the All Schools National Championships in Perth later this year.

By Sis HIGGINS