The 13-year-old said getting a $500 grant, under a Local Sporting Champions program, at the Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou's office last Tuesday was his "most prized" acknowledgement.

With 111 medals to his credit, Nathan said receiving the grant from a Federal MP in front of members of the Calwell local sporting champions assessment panel had spurred him on to become the best swimmer in the country.

"I want to achieve my goal of becoming an Olympian, and compete in the Commonwealth Games," he said.

The Aitken College year 8 student trains at the Maribyrnong pool with 20 other national swimmers six days a week, four hours a day.

Nathan said his swimming idol was Andrew Waterstein. "I met him when I was 10.

"He is my icon because I've seen him go from a national swimmer to an Olympian."

His mother Jacki Smith said Nathan suffered from asthma when he was younger and his doctor suggested he should take up swimming.

"The grant is most welcome. The dollars add up when travelling to interstate swimming competitions...but we wouldn't have it any other way. He just loves doing what he is doing."

Ms Vamvakinou said the program was an Australian Government initiative designed to help junior sportsmen and women covers the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing.

Applications have been invited for 2009-10 funding.

Details: www.ausport.gov.au