There are only 648 residents in the outback town of Richmond, more than 1,500 kilometres north-west of Brisbane.

But they will all be cheering on local swimming hero Connor Smith as he flies down the pool at the 2022 Australian Age National Championships in Adelaide next week.

The way the butterfly champion glides through the water, you would never guess his first steps were taken on red dirt country. 

Since relocating to Townsville for boarding school, Connor's support network has expanded with his new swim club.

And with his hometown behind him and the possibility of Olympic glory in front of him, the 15-year-old said he has never been more motivated.

"I've been doing at least six training sessions a week along with running and a lot of other physical sports just to keep my body in the best condition possible," he said.

"I've got such great support with my school, my current club Townsville Brothers is just one big family, and my former club in Richmond. Everyone has always pushed me to achieve the best I can, and I'll be taking that with me into next week's competition," he said.

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Green and gold

With a personal best of 59.7 seconds for his 100-metre butterfly, the 15-year-old is 10 seconds off the world record of 49.45 held by US swimmer and Connor's idol Caeleb Dressel.

He said the next two years would be crucial for his swimming career.

"I'll definitely be looking at the International Swimming League and the World Championships," he said.

"One of my favourite swimmers is Caeleb Dressel because he's shown that in a small amount of time you can go from not being that well known to becoming one of the best swimmers in the world."

With a big task ahead of him, Connor said he was confident he had what it took to make it.

"I think some of my strengths are that I'm dedicated and persistent.

"It can be hard for kids, especially out in rural communities, to keep going with really competitive sports.

Always a country kid

No matter how far he flies, his biggest fans will always be the ones who saw him take his first strokes.

"Connor is such a great kid, he's so disciplined, and we know that the sky's the limit for him,'' said Bethea Pattel, treasurer of the Richmond swim club.

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And although his success has continued to take him further and further away from his hometown, Connor always finds time to return to his roots.

"Whenever we've had swimming carnivals, Connor always comes back to support the club and the kids. He coaches them and he's also a great mentor for kids who sometimes feel a bit defeated, he just knows how to pick them up and encourage them to keep going.

The 15-year-old said helping out the younger generation was a highlight.

"I absolutely love it. I think it's also great for up-and-coming swimmers in a small country town to see that if you try you really can pursue your passion.

"And it's such a great feeling to be able to assist someone to help them improve their way of swimming."

As for the future, no matter where his swimming takes him, Connor has left a lasting impression on the people around him, Ms Pattel said.

"He has an absolute heart of gold and that will shine through in anything he goes on to do."