Canberra apprentice plumber Alec Tompkins has won Rheem’s 2025 Aussie Plumbers’ Hidden Talent competition, taking home the top prize for his elite pistol shooting performance.

Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2024, the 20-year-old returned to his apprenticeship and sport after months of treatment, going on to secure two national titles before clinching Rheem’s crown.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity, all the other entrants were amazing too. I started shooting following in my dad’s footsteps, he’s been my mentor since I started in 2020. My goal now is to make the Australian team, and, if that goes to plan, the Olympics is the dream,” Alec says.

The competition highlights the resilience and creativity of Australia’s plumbing community.

“Alec’s story is a powerful reminder of why Rheem created this platform. His journey from battling cancer to winning this competition is a testament to the character and resilience we see in plumbers every day,” Rheem Australia marketing director John Collignon says.

“All of this year’s finalists are proof that plumbing is a career full of diverse skills and opportunities. It makes us proud to celebrate this community.”

Now in its eighth year and hosted by comedian Shane Jacobson, the competition showcases plumbers’ skills beyond the trade, with finalists sharing $10,000.

This year’s runners-up included WA apprentice McKenzie Wilson, who live-paints weddings through her business McKenzie The Wedding Painter, and NSW brothers Jake and Clay Teiffel of plumbing business Jake Teiffel Plumbing and rock band Roxferry, who have built an online following of nearly 200,000.