PIGGABEEN'S Moesha Johnson has learnt firsthand that hard work and dedication will get you far.

The 15-year-old swimmer from Tweed River High School will head off to the EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships later this month, after snatching silver in 800m freestyle at the Australian Age Swimming Championships last week.

Moesha has been swimming since she was eight years old and a result of fourth place in last year's Queensland championships provided motivation to succeed in the pool.

"I've definitely trained harder since then and I knew I was fit enough to swim around nine minutes, but I had no idea I could go well under," Moesha said.

"To beat kids who've been medalling at Nationals for years was a huge thrill."

Burleigh Swim school coach and former Olympic gold medallist Brad Cooper was confident his young protégé could go far in the competitive sport.

"I've coached some good swimmers over the years, but none has been as willing as Moesha," he said.

Moesha's mother Paula Johnson was all smiles when discussing her daughter's accolades and it was clear she was immensely proud of her very own rising star.

"If you know Moesha you know there's no boasting, she's really proud of it but she's very quiet," she said.

She also said that despite her extraordinarily sporty daughter also juggling equestrian riding and ballet, swimming was her real passion.

"We do a lot, we've always done a lot, but the swimming is what she's wanted to do since she was little."

With her support network behind her all the way, Moesha appears destined for swimming success.