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ISSUE 7 December
2002
O f f i c i a l
N e w s l e t t e r :
A u s t r a l i a n
GET SET FOR GRANT’S
FREESTYLE REIGN
IAN HANSON
GRANT HACKETT is
determined to protect
his short course crown
when he goes head to
head with Olympic
golden boy Pieter van
den Hoogenband over
100 and 200 metres
freestyle at next week’s
Telstra FINA World Cup
GAMES GOLD: Grant Hackett has
already had a golden year and is ready at the Melbourne
Sports and Aquatic
to continue his reign as the world’s
Centre.
dominant short course freestyler.
Photo: Sport The Library.
“My training has been
going really well and I
was actually quite
surprised with the way I
raced at Miami – it wasn’t
bad for a club meet," said
Hackett, whose time of
3:47.85 was only just
outside the bronze medal
winning time from
the 2000 Olympics.
"To come off this preparation and race short course
will be very interesting indeed and I am actually really
looking forward to it – especially to race Pieter
and Massi.
S w i m m i n g
I n c .
President’s
Message
JOHN DEVITT AM
PRESIDENT AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING INC.
The 2002 Telstra FINA World Cup will attract thousands
of people to the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre
next week and I know there are a lot of people who
have contributed to making this event the huge
success I’m sure it’s going to be.
The Organising Committee has been determined to
ensure the 2002 World Cup will be bigger and better
than ever and I have no doubt that their efforts will be
rewarded by three great days of international
swimming, starting on December 6.
To play host to eight Olympic champions, eight world
champions and eight world record holders is testament
to the quality of swimmer which this event has now
attracted, from home and abroad.
They will be just two of the major highlight events
at the biggest swim meet in Australia since the
Sydney 2000 Olympics.
"Their presence has really added an extra dimension
to this World Cup meet and it has heightened
everyone’s expectations, I can’t wait to get in and race."
Both Hackett and van den Hoogenband head an
impressive list of eight Olympic champions and
world record holders to converge on Melbourne for
the December 6,7 and 8 meet.
Hackett is one of the world’s premier short course
swimmers – winning the 400 metres freestyle at the
last two world short course championships and the
1500m at the last three world championships.
From the Hon. Justin Madden MLC – Victorian Minister
for Sport & Recreation & the Commonwealth Games,
to Peter Abraam and his team at Victorian Major Events
to Gary Barclay and his team at Australian Swimming,
thank you for your support.
They have both been in impressive lead-up form
with the Olympic 1500m champion winning the
400 metres freestyle at the Miami Challenge on the
Gold Coast last week while "Hoogie" has won the
200 and 400m freestyle doubles at the World Cup
meets in Rio de Janeiro and New York.
He is the current world record holder for the 400, 800
and 1500 metres freestyle and has won a total of nine
gold medals and one silver at the last three World
Short Course Titles.
I have little doubt that your efforts have made "Victoria
The Place To Be – in the pool" this summer and I can
think of no better place to launch our 2002-2003 season
of swimming.
For the record Hackett has won a total of 16 medals
at Olympic, World Long Course and World Short Course
Championships – since 1997 – 12 of those medals
are gold.
My memories go back to the 1956 Olympic Games in
Melbourne when the world gathered in the Victorian
capital for a magnificent sporting spectacle.
That places him alongside Alex Popov, with Michael
Klim, the most successful on 27 medals overall,
followed by Matt Biondi (USA) with 20 and Lars
Frolander (SWE) 18.
Melbourne has since built up a reputation second to
none (although those Sydney folk may still beg
to differ) when it comes to hosting major
international events.
The USA will have three of their best performed short
course swimmers in Lindsay Benko, and Rachel
Komisarz in outstanding form after the Rio de Janeiro
and New York meets.
From the Melbourne Cup, to the Grand Prix, The
Australian Open Tennis, major golf tournaments to its
passion for AFL, Melbourne has opened its heart to
national and international visitors.
Benko and Komisarz went 1-2 in the 400 metres in
New York and will go head-to-head with Australia’s
Elka Graham and Amanda Pascoe over 200 and 400
metres freestyle.
It will all create a wonderful platform to build the
excitement and camaraderie for the 2006
Commonwealth Games.
The women’s breaststroke always attracts a "who’s
who" with Aussie trio Leisel Jones, Brooke Hanson
and Tarnee White battling it out with world record
holders Emma Igelstrom (SWE) and Zoe Baker (GBR).
The Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre will be one
of the major venues for those Games and there is no
doubt in my mind that the 2002 Telstra FINA World
Cup will play its part in bringing further international
attention to this mar velous spor ting city.
But "Hoogie" has opted out of the 400m freestyle
in Melbourne – electing to concentrate on the 50,
100 and 200m freestyle and the 50 and 100 metres
butterfly.
Hackett will contest the 100, 200 and 400 metres
freestyle – leaving Miami team mate Stephen
Penfold to the 1500 metres freestyle alongside
I talian Olympic 200 IM gold medallist
Massi Rosolino and fellow Aussies Craig Stevens
and Travis Nederpelt.
The 400 metres freestyle field will feature three
swimmers from the 2000 Olympic final – Hackett,
Rosolino and the USA’s Chad Carvin, who has been
training with Hackett on the Gold Coast.
In the 100 metres, Australia’s world short course
champion, Ashley Callus heads an impressive array
of talent including van den Hoogenband, Denis
Pimankov (RUS), Fernando Scherer and Gustavo
Borges (BRA) and fellow Aussies Hackett, Adam
Pine, Casey Flouch, Andrew Dyson and
Anthony Matkovich.
w w w. s w i m m i n g . o rg . a u
Igelstrom won the 50 and 100m double in New York,
while Hanson won the 50m in Rio.
TICKETS: Available through www.ticketek.com
JOHN DEVITT AM
President
Australian Swimming Inc.
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ISSUE 7 December
2002
From the Chief
Executive’s Desk
GLENN TASKER
Last month, I announced the Directors elected to
the new Board of Australian Swimming. This month,
I will introduce two of them to you. It is important
that the individual members know those who are
leading our sport.
The first pen-picture is of PETER HARFORD of
Victoria. Peter comes to ASI with a very strong
business background and some good old-fashioned
chlorine in his blood stream. Peter, who is currently
the Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water, has a
Commerce Degree and an MBA from the University
of Melbourne. He is also a Fellow of the Australian
Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of
Company Directors and the Australian Society of
Certified Practising Accountants. Like so many,
Peter’s swimming involvement stemmed from his
three children’s membership of a club. He has been
a club president and team manager. He is also an
active participant in open water events in Victoria.
Our second Director profile is that of LYNNE BATES,
who was elected for a fourth term on the Board.
Lynne, who lives in Sydney, is originally from Perth
and she was a member of the Melville Club when
she won a silver medal at the 1968 Olympic Games
in Mexico City. Lynne also has 4 Commonwealth
Games gold medals, which were won in Edinburgh
in 1970. Lynne has made sport her career and has
a very impressive list of achievements, which include
senior executive positions on the organizing
committees for the FINA World Championships,
which were held in Perth in 1991 and 1998. Lynne
played a vital role in the conduct of the aquatics
program at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as the
Competition Manager for Aquatics. For her work on
the Games, Lynne was awarded an IOC Gold Pin and
a FINA Plaque. Lynne has also been recognized by
USA Aquatics Sports when she received the Max B
Ritter Award for her contribution to world aquatics.
Lynne is also on the Executive Board of the Australian
Olympic Committee and will be a Deputy Chef de
Mission for the Australian team in Athens in 2004.
The Australian Spor ts Commission funds Australian
Swimming on behalf of the Federal Government
In coming months, other Directors will be profiled.
High Performance
NATIONAL HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR GREG HODGE
Towards Athens
Over the last fortnight I have been involved in
meetings with the Australian Sports Commission
(ASC) and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)
both of which focussed on Athens.
The ASC has been conducting reviews with each
sport of their performances since Sydney 2000 and
looking at what needs to be done going forward
to Athens. The day and a half workshop was
productive, informative and has provided Swimming
with plenty of challenges. Coaches and athletes
need to have their attention drawn to several points
from those briefings:
1. The expectations on swimming as one of the
major medal contributors to Australia’s medal count
in Athens-we have always had to deal with
expectations by stakeholders, the media and public
in the past. What is different this time is that two
years out the AOC are already concerned about less
sports achieving medals and that two sports
(swimming and cycling) are currently positioned to
win 30 of the expected 47 medals-we are going to
need to develop strategies to deal with this
expectation.
2. Currently our world position puts us in line to win
as many medals as in Sydney-it is rare for any nation
to avoid a ‘downer’ after a home Olympics which is
a further challenge for us all.
3. The heat of Athens (av 40C) is of concern especially
for staff. The pool is outdoors (yes it does have a
roof but is not enclosed on the sides or ends and is
not air-conditioned) and the warm up pool is not
covered - so recovery strategies will be vital.
4. The ASC review provided a thorough analysis of
our recent performances and looked closely at the
new structure and any impact it might have had on
either performance or team dynamics. Now that we
have appointed the Head Coaches the structural
changes are complete and we should be able to
look forward to a period of stability.
5. ASI High Performance funding is dependent upon
success at all levels: performance and administrative.
Recent announcements by the AOC of funding cuts
to MIS on top of the abolition of DAS and the AOP
funding after 2000 require us all to think more
strategically about our priorities - the pie is smaller
yet the expectations are the same!
Finally as we move into the World Cup program and
the National Event Camp the standard of
performance at our trials will hopefully set us up
for a good World Championships in 2003. The
planning is in place to support the athletes and
coaches and it is vital this support is translated into
results in the pool for us to have strong foundation
leading into Athens.
Swimming’s Glitteratti Step Out For
Swimmer Of The Year Awards
The "Who’s Who" of Australian Swimming will be
decked out in their formal attire on Monday
December 9, for the 2002 Telstra Australian Swimmer
of the Year Awards at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in
Melbourne.
It is swimming’s "night of night’s" when the Fastskins,
caps and goggles are swapped for formal dresses
and suits and maybe even the battle between
Armani and Pierre Cardin!
It promises to again be a night to remember. To
reflect on the past 12 months of Australian
Swimming, the excitement of the Commonwealth
Games and Pan Pacific Championships and to
reward those swimmers who have excelled in their
strokes and categories.
Last year it was wonderboy Ian Thorpe who scooped
the pool to win his third consecutive Telstra
Swimmer of the Year.
Thorpe has had another outstanding year but has
been joined by Grant Hackett, Petria Thomas and
Matt Welsh as the standout performers on the
Australian team.
Who will it be this year?
O f f i c i a l N e w s l e t t e r : A u s t r a l i a n S w i m m i n g I n c.
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2
For Petria, Manchester provided the stage for her
to break through for a history making third
consecutive Commonwealth Games 100m butterfly
gold medal. She won a total of seven medals, five
of them gold with one silver and one bronze
c o m p l e t i n g h e r i m p r e s s i ve c o l l e c t i o n .
Two weeks later the Dolphins stood tall to win 11
gold, 14 silver and 3 bronze for a total of 28 medals
at the Pan Pacific Championships. Thorpie and Grant
$5.95
Our first edition for the New Year will give you a
complete preview of the 2003 season and a review
of the 2002 World Cup Meet and all the winners
from the Telstra Swimmer of the Year Awards.
Finally to all you Melbourne swimming fans, get
along to this week's World Cup meet, it's not every
day you get the chance to see the likes of Thorpe,
van den Hoogenband, Hackett, Rosolino, Benko,
Alshammar and Igelstrom and the other Aussie stars
live.
See you on the pool deck!
Live Your Dreams
For Bali Victims
DAVID MASON
Ian Thorpe has been labelled many things since he
burst onto the Australian Swimming stage in 1997
to capture the attention of the Australian public
through his record-breaking feats in the pool.
The best ever…record breaking…. amazing….
unbeatable….unflappable….. the list goes on. You
can now add extremely generous to the list.
Just before he dived back into the water to resume
training for the up-coming Telstra FINA Swimming
World Cup, the Australian Championships and the
2003 World Championships, Thorpe launched his
second book, aimed at inspiring young children to
"Live Your Dreams."
It was launched at the same time as the nation
struggled with the ramifications of the Bali bombing.
The bombing moved Thorpe to the extent where
he and his manager David Flaskas from Grand Slam
International, decided to donate all of their royalties
from the sale of the book to the Bali Fund, set up to
help the relatives of victims and the survivors of the
devastating bomb blast.
www.bigpond.com
Ian won six gold medals and one silver and
established a new world record for the 400m
freestyle.
Our aim is to bring you the news as up-todate as
we possibly can but we would still appreciate any
input from our subscribers, so don't hesitate to tell
us how you feel.
0r visit
Australia dominated Manchester with 27 gold, 13
silver and 8 bronze for a total of 48 medals. The
major highlights centred around Ian Thorpe and
Petria Thomas.
It has been a pleasure bringing you all the news and
views from Australian Swimming, from the CEO's
desk to Kate's column and everything in between.
131 282
The Telstra Dolphins Australian team left for Moscow
soon after and again topped the gold medal tally
at the FINA World Short Course Championships,
winning 10 gold, 7silver and 1 bronze for a total of
18 medals.
On behalf of the editorial team at e-Swimmer and
Hanson Sports Media we would like to take this
opportunity of thanking all of our subscribers – 2000
of you now – for making Australian Swimming’s new
venture a success.
To join call
Let’s have a look back over the 2002 swimming year
which began with the Telstra Australian
Championships in Brisbane and saw our teams
selected for the Commonwealth Games in
Manchester and the Pan Pacific Championships in
Yokohama.
It all added up to another great year for Australian
Swimming – a year of change with the addition of
a new CEO in Glenn Tasker, a new High Performance
Director in Greg Hodge, our new coaches Brian
Sutton and Scott Volkers, a new Board of Directors
and a new look e-swimmer newsletter.
If the book sells as well as publishers Scholastic
Books believes it will, then the donation could reach
$100,000.
"I sat down with Dave and we thought there were
people who needed the money a lot more than we
did," Thorpe said. "It is a tough time and if we can
do something to help others who have been
through the terrible nightmare then that is good."
Thorpe will be signing copies of his book "Live Your
Dreams" at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic
Centre on Saturday December 7 from 12 noon to
2pm – immediately following the heats session of
the 2002 Telstra FINA Swimming World Cup.
The 20-year-old triple Olympic gold medallist will
swim the 50 metres freestyle heats on Sunday
morning December 8 at 10 am and if he qualifies
for the final, will take on the best sprinters in the
world, including Pieter van den Hoogenband that
night at 7pm.
Australian Swimming has also organised special
autograph signings on each of the three evenings
of the meet, with Michael Klim, Grant Hackett, Jim
Piper, Ashley Callus, Leisel Jones, Elka Graham and
Brooke Hanson, just some of the stars who will be
on hand to meet the fans.
O f f i c i a l N e w s l e t t e r : A u s t r a l i a n S w i m m i n g I n c.
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with all sorts of goodies.
No matter what happens in between, judgement
day will begin on August 13, 2004.
packed
I get the distinct impression that the "Big O" word
will be the focus for Australian Swimming, with our
head coaches Brian Sutton and Scott Volkers
steering our team towards the 2004 Olympics.
• 1 Free# Month for new Telstra BigPond dial-up plan customers
• Local Call dial-up access from fixed phone lines anywhere in Australia
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these services on to a Telstra Single Bill and select Telstra Options Rewards.
• Access to 1000’s of exclusive Telstra BigPond newsgroups
It is hard to imagine just how much swimming we
can squeeze into a calendar year these days and by
January 1, 2003, we’ll all be talking about next year’s
Olympic in Athens.
www.telstra.com
MANAGING EDITOR IAN HANSON
And here are just some of them…
Hanso Says
Hackett were the stand out individual performers
but it was in the relays where the Aussies challenged
the USA. The "swim of the meet" from Petria Thomas
in the 4x100m medley relay caught everyone’s
attention.
Petria returned to Melbourne for the Telstra
Australian Short Course Championships where she
produced more record-breaking performances.
Matt Welsh also established a new world record in
the 50m backstroke and then spearheaded
Australia’s "Deadly Medley" relay team which
included Geoff Huegill, Jim Piper and Ashley Callus
to a new world record.
Plans start from just
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2002
Telstra BigPond ™ Internet comes
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ISSUE 7 December
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ISSUE 7 December
2002
State Round-up
VICTORIA
Preparations have been underway for over six
months now in collaboration with Australian
Swimming for the 2002 Telstra FINA World Cup.
SWIMMING VICTORIA are looking forward to
hosting many swimmers from overseas and the
whole of the Telstra Dolphins Squad for the threeday swimming meet and for the National Event
Camps commencing on the 10th of December.
With the 2006 Commonwealth Games approaching
rapidly, Swimming Victoria is attracting major
international competitors to our swimming meets.
There has been strong interest from elite swimmers
from both within Australia and from overseas to
compete at our Victorian Championships from the
2-5 January 2003. If you have any enquiries about
competing, please contact Robert Iannazzo on
+61 3 9686 5222 or visit our new, revamped and
improved website at
www.swimmingvictoria.org.au.
• Shanghai / Melbourne
World Cup Tour
• Swimmers Rachel Coffee,
Jordana Webb, Sarah Kasoulis,
Shayne Reese and Ben Tuckerman and
Coach Rohan Taylor (all Carey Aquatic
Swimming Club)
• European World Cup Tour
• Swimmer Rachel Goh (Melbourne Vicentre
Swimming Club)
• Youth Olympic Festival Swimmers Tayliah Zimmer
(Warrnambool), Sam Pendergast (Warrnambool),
Lauren Collins (Melton), Danni Miatke (Carey
Aquatic) and Rory Comerford (Melbourne Vicentre)
Keep up to date with the latest happenings in
Victorian swimming at
www.swimmingvictoria.org.au.
With elite competition and swimmers in mind,
several swimmers have made the move to Victoria
including Massi Rosolino (Italian Olympic/World
Champion), Giaan Rooney and Leigh McBean both
from Queensland. Japanese star breaststroker and
World Record holder Kosuke Kitajima and Swedish
star and world record holding breaststroker
Emma Igelstrom are also making a training pit stop
in Melbourne.
NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW SWIMMING Development Officer, Craig Oliver
has spent plenty of time on the road this month
and has conducted coaching clinics in Moree,
Gunnedah, Singleton and the Far North Coast. Craig’s
clinics have covered all competitive strokes, dry land
training, biomechanics and nutrition but have
focused mostly on swimming as a ‘fun’ sport to be
involved in.
Several swimmers and coaches made World Cup
teams and Youth Olympic Festival Teams for the
2002/2003 season. This has undoubtedly been
Victoria’s best year for placing swimmers on World
Cup Teams and Australian Youth Teams. Team
members include:
• Rio de Janeiro / New York World Cup Tour
• Swimmers Andrew Dyson, Jason Cohen and
Brooke Hanson and Coach Mark Thompson (all
Nunawading Swimming Club)
A big thankyou must go to all coaches involved in
the Visiting Country Coaches Program; Matt Brown,
G ra e m e “G r u b” Ca r r o l l , Pe t e r Fr e n ey,
Ben Jenkinson, Chris Meyers, Mark Morgan, Justin
Rothwell, Tony Shaw and Brian Wilkinson. Local
schools and clubs have also been extremely helpful
with the organisation of the visits and it will be great
to see some of their talented young swimmers
competing in the upcoming NSW meets.
Open Water
These two words should become synonymous in the
New Year when the 1992 Olympic city of Barcelona
plays host to the FINA World Swimming Championships.
The capacity crowd for the event is expected to be
around 80,000 spectators who will flock to the beaches
and harbour to watch the competition.
As another year of open water swimming wraps up for
2002 we look ahead to what is going to be another
massive 12 months in the sport in 2003 highlighted by
the World Championships in Barcelona from mid July.
FINA President, Mustapha Larfaoui is confident that
Barcelona 2003 will be a landmark in the history of the
FINA World Championships.
The open water swimming competition will run on July
13, 16 and 19 contested along the sea front of Barcelona.
The start will be in the heart of the city, Port Vell and
from there the swimmers will race along Barcelona’s
beaches.
"The city of Barcelona has all the conditions to offer a
global aquatic show which will be a landmark in the
history of the FINA World Championships", he said.
"We want to create a real communion between Spanish,
Catalonian and Barcelona’s entities. In this respect, I
cannot forget the continuous support and interest of
the Mayor of Barcelona, Mr Juan Clos who from the first
moment was personally involved in this organisation
and is a guarantee for the success of these
championships".
As well as being one of the most picturesque images
of the 2003 World Championships, the sea competition
will be a journey into the future when the 25km event
passes the area to be used for the 2004 Universal
Cultures Forum.
O f f i c i a l N e w s l e t t e r : A u s t r a l i a n S w i m m i n g I n c.
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Memory
Lanes
KEVIN BERRY
Ian O'Brien was born in the central NSW farming
community of Wellington in 1947. He was a strong,
well-built youngster who, by the time he was 14, was
a schoolboy swimming sensation in his chosen
discipline of breaststroke.
When O'Brien came to the 'big smoke' he naturally
gravitated to ex-world record holder and fellow
breaststroker, Terry Gathercole. Gathercole was
himself a “bushie” having grown up and done most
of his swimming in West Wyalong. He was by now
making his mark as a successful coach.
In 1962 O'Brien won his first national title and later
that year went on to par ticipate in the
Commonwealth Games in Perth. His first foray into
international competition proved most successful
as he finished these Games with a collection of three
gold medals.
But the Olympics are the big one and along with
coach Gathercole, O'Brien set his sights on the 200
metres breaststroke event at the Tokyo Games in
1964.
O'Brien won his heat however there were several
other contenders who also made their mark. One
was the USA's great Chet Jastremski who had
dominated breaststroke swimming over the previous
four years, and the other was the current world record
holder, Russian Georgy Prokopenko. All three
swimmers made it through the semi-finals and going
into the final it was the classic example of the
underdog nation of Australia, represented by O'Brien,
taking on the superpowers of America and the USSR.
Jastremski took off fast and Prokopenko followed.
By 150 metres the Aussie had passed "Chet the Jet"
and in an exciting finish, he caught and passed the
Russian. At age 17, Ian O'Brien became an Olympic
champion. His time of 2 min.27.8 sec was not only
an Olympic record, it also established a new world
mark. The boy from Wellington also gained a bronze
medal in Tokyo when the Australian medley relay
team placed third.
Ian O'Brien continued his career until 1968. He
managed to win another two gold medals at the
Jamaican Commonwealth Games of 1966.
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ISSUE 7 December
2002
Athlete Profiles
Disability
News
IAN THORPE
KURT HANSON
KURT HANSON
NICKNAME: Thorpedo
D.O.B: 13 October, 1982
BORN: Sydney, NSW
HGT: 195 cm
CLUB: SLC Aquadot (NSWIS)
TRAINS: Sutherland Leisure Centre
AGE: 20
LIVES: Sydney, NSW
WGT: 100 kg
COACH: Tracey Menzies
OCCUPATION: Swimmer
The World Cup in Melbourne will be the ‘Thorpedo’s’ first major swim
since the Pan Pacific Championships in Yokohama. He will race the 50
metre freestyle event in Melbourne against an all star field including
world record holder, Mark Foster of Great Britain, arch rival Pieter van den
Hoogenband of the Netherlands, Brazil’s Fernando Scherer and Australian
pair Brett Hawke and Ashley Callus.
AUSSIES READY
FOR IPC WORLD SWIMMING
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ARGENTINA
Thorpe re-created history at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in
Manchester winning six gold medals and placing second in his newest
event the 100m backstroke. Thorpe once again kick started his meet when
he broke his own 400m freestyle world record on the first night of
competition. Thorpe’s other gold medals came in the 100m, 200m freestyle,
4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.
The 3rd IPC World Swimming Championships are
only days away and as the Australian team
contingent get ready to take on the world’s best
disability swimmers, Argentina prepares to host the
biggest disability competition out side of the
Paralympic Games.
Went on to the Pan Pacific Championships in Yokohama where he won
five gold and one silver. His individual gold came in the 100,200 and 400
metre freestyle with the 4x100 and 4x200 metre freestyle relay victories
adding to his total. Picked up silver as a member of the 4x100 metre
medley relay team that set a new Commonwealth record although losing
to the United States.
54 countries will converge on Mar del Plata, Argentina
between December 6 -17 to contest a massive 14
disability categories on a world stage.
Australian dual Commonwealth Games gold
medallist and S8 world record holder in the 50 metre
freestyle, Ben Austin will be looking to win back his
world record in the S8 100 metres freestyle after
China’s Xiaofu Wang set a new mark of 1:00.08 in
Busan in October.
ELKA GRAHAM
NICKNAME: Elks
D.O.B: 20 October, 1981
BORN: Sydney, NSW
HGT: 183 cm
CLUB: Sydney Uni (NSWIS)
TRAINS: Sydney University
Austin, who only months ago suffered a setback in
a car accident that broke his collar bone, has been
back in the pool and eager to lead the Australian
team from the front alongside Victorian Alex Harris
who has gained plenty of experience after being a
part of the Australian Swimming team for
the Commonwealth Games in Manchester already
this year.
AGE: 21
LIVES: Sydney, NSW
WGT: 69 kg
COACH: Brian Sutton
OCCUPATION: Swimmer
Last raced at the Australian Short Course Championships in Melbourne
in September where she took gold in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle
both in new personal best times. Will return to the World Cup where she
will renew her battle against American rival Lindsay Benko.
Others to watch out for include South African, Natalie
du Toit who in Manchester not only won two gold
medals for the EAD swim events but made the finals
of the non-EAD program. She was also honoured as
the recipient of the David Dixon Award as the most
outstanding athlete of the Games.
Graham made the biggest move of her swimming career so far when she
parted with long time coach and friend, Narelle Simpson at the Manly
Swimming Club in late 2002 to take up a position in the sprinting specialist
stables at Sydney University under Australian men’s head coach,
Brian Sutton.
Natalie continued her amazing year by winning the
South African Sports Woman of the Year award while
golfer, Ernie Els received the men’s top honour at
the MTN Free State Sport Media banquet in
Bloemfontein last week.
2002 Telstra Peoples Choice
Swimmer of the Year Competition
Simply Choose Your Favourite Swimmer
from the Telstra Dolphins Team and enter to win
You could win a ticket for you and a friend
to attend the Telstra Swimmer of the Year
Awards at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne
on the 9th December 2002
Visit www.swimming.org.au for further details
.................................................................................................................................................................................
Permit Numbers: NSW TPL02/09229; SA T02/3709; ACT TP02/3695; NT NT02/3406
* Copy of the terms and condition are available at www.swimming.org.au. Total maximum prize value is $2,780.00.
The Promoter is Telstra Corporation Limited (ABN 33 051 775 556).
O f f i c i a l N e w s l e t t e r : A u s t r a l i a n S w i m m i n g I n c.
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But it was the 18-year-old from Cape Town who won
gold in both the 50 and 100 metres disabled freestyle
swimming events and breaking two world records
at the Commonwealth Games that won the hearts
of sports fans world wide.
In a Games first in Manchester she also made the
final of the able-bodied 800 metres swimming event
where she swam a personal best of 9min 13.57sec
to place eighth in a race won by England's Rachel
Cooke in 8:28.54
In an amazing story, Du Toit competed as a highlypromising 14-year-old at the last Commonwealth
Games in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, but her life
was tragically altered in February of last year
when she lost her left leg at the knee in a
motorbike accident.
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ISSUE 7 December
2002
What’s
On
In November, I met with new Head Coaches Brian
Sutton and Scott Volkers, together with National
Youth Coach Leigh Nugent, High Performance
Director Greg Hodge and High Performance
Manager John Priestly.
Our meeting revolved around the competition
calendar for 2003 and confirmation of dates for
domestic events around the Australian, Australian
Age and Australian Short Course Championships.
The confirmed calendar can be found below. The
major date change from previous eSwimmer
calendars is the Telstra Swimming Grand Prix 1
which has moved two weeks later in May.
The second Australian Youth Olympic Festival
(AYOF) to be staged in Sydney early next year will
consist of up to 17 sports and 1400 elite junior
athletes. Swimming teams from USA, Canada, New
Zealand, Japan and China have confirmed their
attendance ensuring the standard of the swimming
competition will be extremely high.
Olympic heroes. The swimming competition will be
staged at the Olympic venue of Sydney International
Aquatic Centre.
As part of preparing our elite junior swimmers for
the future, the AOC will also provide an Olympic
Village style accommodation by utilising some of
the colleges and universities throughout Sydney.
The AYOF Opening Ceremony will be held at the
Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday
January 8 from 6.30 – 8.30. Tickets for the AYOF
Opening Ceremony are available for purchase at the
Entertainment Centre and all Ticketek outlets
(www.ticketek.com).
AYOF Day Passes will be available for purchase at
most Festival venues on each day of competition.
The Day Pass will entitle the bearer to attend sports
on any one day of the Australian Youth Olympic
Festival Program. Day passes are Adults $10 and
Concession $5.
Apr 6
Apr 26 – 30
May 1
May 1 - 3
May 3 – 7
May 23 - 25
Jun 21 – 22
Jul 15 - 27
Aug 2 – 5
Aug 21 – 31
2004
Mar 27 – Apr 3
Aug 13 - 29
Oct 7 – 10
The Australian Spor ts Commission funds Australian
Swimming on behalf of the Federal Government
The Australian Institute of Sport is a major program of
the Australian Sports Commission and is celebrating
21 years of excellence
The AIS has just announced that Glen Beringen will be
joining the coaching staff. Glen was a fantastic swimmer
himself and won a silver medal in 200 metre breaststroke
at the 1984 Olympic Games. He has been the head coach
of the South Australian Institute of Sport swimming
program for the past 11 years. Glen will take up his
position early in the New Year. We look forward to
welcoming him to the team.
I CAN’T BELIEVE another year has passed us by… and
what a year it has been for the AIS swim team.
Australian Swimming is
coordinating the swimming
competition for the AOC.
ASI CALENDAR
2003
Jan 9 - 12
Jan 17 – 18
Jan 21 – 22
Jan 25 - 26
Mar 22 – 29
AIS corner with Sasha Pine
The AOC will also include its Drug Education Program
as part of the 2003 Festival format.
For most of our Olympic aspirants who are aged
between 14 – 18 years the Festival provides an
opportunity to compete in the footsteps of their
2002
Dec 1 – 2
Dec 6 – 8
Dec 9
Dec 10-14
Sasha’s
Splashes
World Cup No. 3
Telstra FINA World Cup No. 4
Telstra Swimmer of the Year
National Event Camp
Shanghai
Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne
Australian Youth Olympic Festival
World Cup No. 5
World Cup No. 6
World Cup No. 7
Telstra Australian Championships
(World Championships Trials)
Duel in the Pool (Australia vs USA)
Australian Age Championships
Australian Age Open Water Championships
Australian Open Water Championships
ASCTA Conference
Telstra Grand Prix 1
Telstra Grand Prix 2
10th FINA World Swimming Championships
Telstra Australian Short Course Championships
World University Games
Sydney
Paris
Stockholm
Berlin
Sydney
USA
Brisbane
Bond Uni, QLD
Bond Uni, QLD
Gold Coast
TBA
TBA
Barcelona
Hobart
Deagu, South Korea
Telstra Australian Championships
(2004 Olympic Selection Trials)
Olympic Games
FINA World Short Course Championships
Sydney
Athens
Indianapolis
The year began as it always does with the various state
championships. February saw the team travel to
Maroochydore for an intensive training camp to prepare
for the Australian Championships which were held in
March. The AIS team performed tremendously with ten
swimmers being selected for the National Team. April
saw some terrific performances at the World Short
Course Championships.
Pierre La Fontaine was added to the coaching staff in
May and started recruiting young talent to the team,
while some swimmers headed to Europe for the Mare
Nostrum Tour. The team headed back up to the Sunshine
Coast in June for another intensive training cycle. The
Commonwealth Games in July was extremely successful,
backed up by an impressive Pan Pac Championships
in August.
In September the team headed to Melbourne to
compete at the Australian Short Course Championships.
The team was obviously tired but managed PBs and
Australian Titles. October was the month to rest, recover
and catch up with family and friends. November and
the team were again jet setting overseas, this time to
Mexico for an Altitude camp and competition in LA.
After returning from the highly succesful altitude camp,
the swimmers performed well at the annual AIS
meet.This meet will help the team prepare for the
Australian leg of the FINA World Cup Series at the Telstra
FINA World Cup on December 6-8, Melbourne Sports
and Aquatic Centre.
In Decmber the team members will leave Canberra and
head home for Christmas. They will be required to keep
training over the festive season in preparation for another
busy year as they continue their dedication to excellence.
That’s it from me for this month, until next month enjoy
the international swimming at the Telstra FINA World
Cup and …… go the AIS team and all the Australian
competitors.
[email protected]
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ISSUE 7 December
2002
Kate’s
Column
MASSI THE EARLY RISER – NOT: Popular Italian golden
boy Massi Rosolino, who is now training with Ian Pope
at Melbourne Vicentre, was far from impressed with his
early wake-up call to fit in the official launch of the
Telstra FINA World Cup.
Jokingly, the Neapolitan IMer, asked if all future launches
could be staged "maybe a little later in the day."
"I am not used to swimming at 5am and then going to
a media conference at 8am…why don’t we have it next
time at say….11 am or even midday," said the blond
bombshell from Naples.
a splash and anything else you can find to describe her
amazing arrival on the swimming scene.
In two days, the girl from Cal Berkley established new
world records in the 100m backstroke (56.71), 100m
butterfly (56.34) and 100m individual medley (58.80).
Is there anything this girl can’t do? Watch out for her
at next year’s World Championships in Barcelona.
CANNING BACK IN THE SWIM: Miami based rising star
Katie Canning made an impressive return to
competitive swimming after a long recovery from
glandular fever when she blitzed the field at the Miami
Challenge meet on the Gold Coast. Katie swam a very
credible 2:02.98 for the 200m freestyle and 4:18.81 for
the 400m freestyle, times fast enough to qualify for the
2002 Australian Championships finals held earlier this
year. Katie is looking forward to continuing her
improving form at the World Cup meet in Melbourne
this week.
SECURITY CHECKS: The Telstra Dolphins Australian
team in Rio de Janeiro had a good time while they were
there (see photo at Copacabana Beach) but it wasn’t
all fun and games. They were under armed escort when
they left their team hotel to go to the pool and were
told not to leave their rooms.
Leigh Nugent and Mark Thompson did manage an
organized guided tour on the final day so the ninestrong team could take some happy snaps.
The team also underwent strict security searches in
New York when they arrived there for the second World
Cup Meet.
One swimmer had a suit case searched for metal
objects, but it turned out to be "medal objects" – three
medals won at the Rio World Cup. How times have
changed.
WONDER SWIMMER: US wondergirl Natalie Coughlin
has certainly started the FINA World Cup with a bang,
What will be interesting for the national hero from the
Netherlands is to see if he will let his extra curricular
activities become a part of his 2003 World
Championships program to add to an already congested
50,100,200 freestyle and three relays in Barcelona
next year.
National
LEIGH NUGENT
The FINA World Cup competitions are the feature of the
youth program from November to Januar y.
Approximately 36 youth category swimmers will gain
international exposure on the FINA World Cup circuit.
Thanks Massi…and sorry about the early morning
wake up call.
Carvin has a real affinity with Australia and spent time
with one of his best mates, former Australian
representative Rob Abernethy, on a surfing safari after
the 2000 Olympics
His high quality sprint butterfly prowess has come to
the forefront at recent World Cup meets overseas where
already he has won a silver medal in the 50 metre
butterfly and placed seventh in the 100 metre event.
Youth Scene
But the best IM swimmer in the world was available for
every TV, radio and press journalist and photographer
and has played a key role in assisting organisers
promote the meet.
CARVIN UP DOWN UNDER: US Olympian Chad Carvin
has been enjoying his stay in Australia, training
alongside Grant Hackett and under Denis Cotterell and
trying to fit in his second love…surfing at Burleigh
Heads…in between.
"I love it out here in Australia and to get the opportunity
to train with Grant is a real eye-opener, I now know why
he is so good," said Carvin, who will be one of the US
stars heading to Melbourne for the World Cup.
Arch rival Dutchman, Pieter van den Hoogenband, the
dual Olympic gold medallist from Sydney 2000 has
joined Thorpe in spreading his talents across the
events schedule.
RIO'S GRAND: AUSSIE SWIMMERS ANDREW DYSON, BROOKE HANSON
AND JASON COHEN RELAXING IN RIO.
Something In
The Water
Congratulations are in order from the Australian
Swimming family with the news that, Hanson Sports
Media staff member, Kate McKay tied the knot recently
on the Gold Coast with high school sweet heart, Brett
Robinson.
Also the sound of wedding bells rang for Australian
Swimming’s Events and Disability Co-ordinator, Kylie
Albers with her marriage to Daniel Elliott. Both Mrs
Robinson and Mrs Elliott have had happy honeymoons
and are looking forward to returning to the workplace
under new identities.
The circuit began in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and was
followed four days later by the New York meet in the
USA. It was then across the Pacific to China where the
third meet was conducted in Shanghai; then down to
the southern hemisphere again to complete the fourth
meet in Melbourne.
The Rio and New York meets were attended by a group
of sprint males giving them exposure to the strong
sprint competition in both Brazil and the United States.
Conversely the Shanghai team was an all female group
consisting of a mixture of sprint, form stroke and
individual medley girls. China is renowned for its strength
in female events, ideal for providing great
racing experience for the Aussie girls. This team will be
returning to Australia to compete in the Melbourne
World Cup, which is shaping up to be the biggest meet
of the whole series.
The remaining meets are conducted throughout Europe
in the New Year. Two teams have been selected to share
these meets consisting of male and female swimmers
who race over a range of events.
Also a special mention to Australian Swimming’s Team
Accounts Manager Bernadette Evans (and husband
Kim) on the birth of their beautiful baby boy
called Thomas.
The World Cup circuit is an ideal series for the Australian
youth program to develop the international capabilities
of its up and coming high performers. It has every
ingredient required to develop the tough international
competitor – long haul flight travel, foreign countries,
unfamiliar competitors, different cultures, foreign
languages, major time and climatic changes and above
all consistently tough racing.
Dutchman
The World Cup circuit is the breeding ground and
virtually a prerequisite experience for the members of
our national team in the years prior to their selection.
Spreads His Wings
Swimming superstar Ian Thorpe isn’t the only talent in
world swimming today who has succumb to the
monotony of his phenomenal freestyle performances
in the pool and opted to expand their repertoire in
the pool.
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ISSUE 7 December
2002
Swim
TV
DAVID MASON
Fox Sports is the place to be on Swim TV in
December as the world’s best swimmers descend
on Melbourne for the 2002 Telstra Swimming
World Cup.
From December 6-8 some of the best swimmers
from around the globe will take on Australia’s best
in what is shaping as the best swim meet in Australia
since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Dual Olympic gold medallist Pieter van den
Hoogenband, Russian world record holder Roman
Sloudnov and USA freestyle world record holder
Lindsay Benko will head the overseas contingent
coming to Melbourne.
There to meet them – head-on – is the allconquering Australian swim team led by World
Champions Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Matt Welsh
and Giaan Rooney.
Melbourne is set to come alive for those three days
but for all those who can’t get to the Melbourne
Sports and Aquatic Centre you can catch the
action LIVE and exclusive on Fox Sports from
December 6-8.
and excitement to Australians through their TV
screens over the three days.
The popular Fox Sports News program will also be
broadcast LIVE from the Melbourne Sports and
Aquatic Centre for the three days of competition
with Caroline Searcy.
The best swimming action in December will be in
Australia and Fox Sports is the place to catch
“Thorpey”, “Hacky” “Welshy” take on the rest of the
world. Fox Sport has live coverage from 7pm
each night
Commentators John Casey, Nicole Livingstone and
Duncan Armstrong will bring all the action, colour
Club Profile: Chandler’s
Darling Dozen
Throughout 2002 Brisbane’s Chandler Swim Club
has been highlighted by the achievements of
Commonwealth and Pan Pacific golden girls,
freestyle sprinters Jodie Henry and Alice Mills.
Jodie and Alice are two members of a successful
female squad, dubbed the ‘Darling Dozen’ who have
seen the Chandler Club’s name in the spotlight and
given coach Shannon Rollason the title of ‘Australian
Age Group Coach of the Year’ for the third time in
four years.
Butterflyer Melanie Houghton, who represented
Australia this year at the World Short Course
Championships and is a member of the 2002-3
Telstra Dolphins squad.
Middle-Distance freestyler Nadine Loof, who
represented Australia this year in the Trans-Tasman
series and is a member of the 2002-3 Fisher and
Paykel squad.
Breaststroker Lisa Hartman, who also represented
Australia in the Trans-Tasman series and is a member
of the 2002-3 Fisher and Paykel squad.
The other members of the squad include:
Backstroker Angela Scott is a member of the 20023 Telstra Dolphins squad.
Sprint freestyler Cassie Hunt, who represented
Australian this year at the Pan Pacific Championships
and is a member of the 2002-3 Telstra Dolphins
squad.
Freestyler/Butterflyer Clair Barret, who was a
medallist at this year’s National Age Championships.
Sprint Freestyler Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane, who
represented Papua New Guinea this year at the
Commonwealth Games.
Distance freestyler Kristy Park, is a member of the
2002-3 Dolphins squad and represented Australia
at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships and the 1998
World Championships.
Sprint freestyler Tegan Wilkie, who represented
Australia this year at the Oceania Championships
and is a member of the 2002-3 Telstra Dolphins
squad.
Distance freestyler Briody Murphy, who also
represented Australia this year at the Oceania
Championships. Briody also won her first open level
medal, a bronze in the 800m freestyle at an at the
re ce n t Te l s t r a Au s t r a l i a n S h o r t Co u r s e
Championships and is a member of the 2002-3
Telstra Dolphins squad.
Official Newsletter: Australian Swimming Inc.
Production Team
Managing Editor:
Design:
Ian Hanson
TBD Group
Chief reporter:
Special thanks:
David Mason
Glenn Tasker, Brendan Lynch,
Maria Ciancio, Troy Bremner
Production Co-ordinator:
(TBD), Jenny Balym &
Kate Robinson
Dave Mason
Staff Writers:
Kurt Hanson
And experienced butterflyer Julia Ham, who has
been seen back at training, no doubt looking to add
to her already impressive list of achievements. She
has already represented Australia at the 1997 Pan
Pacific Championships, the 1999 World University
Games and the 2001 World Championships.
As this squad looks forward to next year, many of
Chandler’s younger swimmers will be trying to
emulate the top girls but we have to ask the
question? Are there any boys in the ’hood?
General enquiries:
Hazel Tolley
Australian Swimming Inc.
Contributors:
Glenn Tasker, Greg Hodge,
Kevin Berry, Kylie Elliot,
Gary Barclay, Leigh Nugent,
Sasha Pine.
Phone: (02) 6256 9666
Fax: (02) 6256 9667
[email protected]
Editorial enquiries:
Kate Robinson
Hanson Sports Media Pty. Ltd.
Photographers:
Phone: (07) 5522 5556
Sport the Library
Fax: (07) 5522 5557
[email protected]
The Australian Sports Commission proudly supporting Australian Swimming
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