He later took up competitive swimming under the wing of leading coach Frank Guthrie, who waived his customary fee of £1 per week because Talbot's parents could not afford it. He won the New South Wales Under 14 backstroke championship and broke the New South Wales Under 14 record for the individual medley. He attended Bankstown Primary School, Bankstown Technical School and Homebush Boys High School. He failed his high school leaving certificate, but took a scholarship at Wagga Wagga Teacher's College. After graduating from teacher's college, he taught physical education at Revesby General Primary School.