2016 Year in Review

2015 JUN-2016 DEC YearInReview Well what a year! Just a few short months ago we reached the These will be invaluable as we head towards the Stories from those new faces that entered the pool The Dolphinsʼ energy and enthusiasm had to be seen pinnacle of our sport as we competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and Tokyo 2020. for the first time, inspired by the actions of our team. to be believed. Olympic and Paralympic Games. What is for certain, And those older as well, that perhaps returned after Swimming is very much the heart and soul of What an incredible 18 months. some time away, or put on their goggles and started The highlights for me? In the pool at the Olympic Australia. their swimming journey as anadult. Games it was Mack Horton, Kyle Chalmers and our Stories that will soon become part world record breaking womenʼs 4x100m freestyle There is a sense of pride amongst the swimming of our history, our legacy left We are all a part of the same swimming community relay team. While in Open Water, community around our swimmers which is both behind for the next generation. but everyoneʼs path is different. Our obligation is to Jarrod Poortʼs gutsy attempt to lead the race from wonderful and unique – and for us this culture is inspire Australians to swim, be that for fun, fitness or start to finish, almost paid off with an unlikely medal. key. Stories from the Rio 2016 team; those that competition. performed under pressure, As a whole our Olympians improved on their Of course we are constantly striving to do better on those that were humble in A very special mention must go to Mrs Gina seventh position from four years ago in London, the world stage and there defeat, and gracious in Rinehart, who has been a supporter of swimming ranking number two in the world in Rio. have been many high victory. from the beginning. We are delighted that Hancock And our young and dedicated Paralympic team performance lessons that Prospecting have extended their role as Principal proved they have the potential to continue to rise up have come from this year. Partner until 2020. the ranks. Mrs Rinehart is the Patron of our sport and her My standouts? Teenagers, Maddie Elliott, Lakeisha support through Hancock Prospecting and the Patterson, Tiffany Thomas Kane and Timothy Disken Georgina Hope Foundation has been vital. all making their way onto the podium in individual events in Rio. And the womenʼs 34 point 4x100m One of the milestone moments on our current freestyle relay, emulating the Olympic team, winning journey came in August 2016 when we partnered gold and also setting a new world record. Our with Optus, a company that shares our vision and Paralympic future is very bright. excitement for the future of our sport! Not only that, but our athletesʼ Soon after, we launched Optus Junior Dolphins – our very first national junior program. Optus Junior behaviour, solidarity and Dolphins will be a breakthrough project and just the sportsmanship was inspirational. beginning of realising our vision. For some, the past year was a lesson, a step on the The past year and a half way to bigger and better things into the future, for has also seen further others lifelong goals were achieved and now new stability provided for our ones will be set. Regardless of the outcome, I know sport thanks to the signing that every member of our team had their family and of Network Seven as friends, coaches, staff, officials, volunteers and the Broadcast Partner. swimming community, all behind them every step of the way. Seven will broadcast our major domestic and While there have been many positives, 2016 saw the international events, passing of one of the sportʼs greatest innovators, including the 2018 Forbes Carlile MBE, at 95-years-of-age. Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and Tokyo Forbes lived an incredibly full life, husband to 2020, bringing the sport of Ursula, an Olympic pentathlete, innovative Olympic swimming to homes across swimming coach. Forbes will be dearly missed but the country. the name Carlile will long live in the history of swimming throughout Australia and the world. AS THEY SAY, SPORT IS THE LAST UNSCRIPTED DRAMA The support of all Something I will take away on a personal of our partners perspective was his desire to always improve, to KNOWN TO MANKIND. innovate. This mantra is so critical for us as a sport, was felt by our at every level, from grass roots to high performance. team, halfway across the world Over the past year and a half there are many as they competed achievements to be celebrated, but I can assure you the desire to improve, to get better, beats strong at the Olympic here at Swimming Australia. and Paralympic Games in Rio. The challenge ahead is exciting. Together with the support of our swimming community and our JOHN partners the future is looking very bright! Go Australia! AO BERTRAND 1 As we reflect on the past year and a half and our Swimming Australia Patron, Mrs Rinehart through In October 2016, Optus Junior a magnificent 18 months – your hard work and objective throughout this Olympic Cycle - to make Hancock Prospecting as Principal Partner and the dedication to the sport was evident throughout. Australia proud of the Australian Swim Team, I am Georgina Hope Foundation providing support to our Dolphins was launched at the enthused about just how far we have come. swimmers, have remained the major supporter of iconic North Sydney Pool with the And to our partners in the States and Territories swimming. help of Rio Olympians Madison across Australia, the ASA and ASCTA our This year was the peak for us, the biggest moment Wilson and Emma McKeon and partnerships are strong and building further. We on our international swimming calendar and the way Mrs Rinehart has recently announced the extension would not have achieved any of the above without our people conducted themselves in victory and of her partnership with swimming for a further four swimming legend Ian Thorpe. the passion and commitment of the entire industry. defeat was superb. years. Her passion for our sport and swimmers is evident to all and greatly appreciated. Optus Junior Dolphins provides a fantastic example I would like to leave you all with a quote that I Our swimmers, on both the Olympic and Paralympic of how we are working as one sport. This program is believe is relevant to our sport as we seek to build Games teams impressed in Rio. The transition to Channel Seven has had a the result of State Associations, ASCTA, sponsors as on a tremendous foundation that has been laid. tremendous impact on our sport and with the well as staff from across the various units of In addition to our medal performances, our Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Swimming Australia coming together to help create “Inspire others to dream more, swimmers presented themselves as a united team Network partnering with Swimming until 2024, we the program. We want to build Optus Junior and supported teammates and competitors through have a broadcast partner that will ensure our sport Dolphins in to one of Australian sportʼs iconic junior learn more, to do more to become victory and defeat. has a place in the lounge rooms of houses across programs. more”. Australia on Prime Time TV. It is a testament to their team And finally and very importantly I would like to We have an opportunity for each of us involved in It was fantastic to hear that audiences peaked at congratulate our President John Bertrand swimming, in whatever shape or form to apply this culture and we are excited by the 1.5million on day 6 of the Hancock Prospecting AO, the Swimming Australia into our area of influence and to leave a lasting things that will come from these Australian Swimming Championships and for five Board, my legacy and to inspire Australians to be the swimmer swimmers. nights peaked over 1.2 million viewers. Simply management team and they want to be. superb exposure for our sport! staff, coaches, athletes, officials and Both are young teams. The lessons learnt will volunteers on absolutely feed our hunger to make further progress Leading telecommunications organisation Optus has and build from our strong foundation as we strive for also joined as a Principal Partner, signing on just excellence over 2017, through to the 2018 Gold prior to the Olympic Games. Together we share the Coast Commonwealth Games and 2020 Tokyo goal of inspiring a million more Australians to swim. Olympics. What an exciting opportunity this is. Support from our sponsors underpin every element As we look back over the 18 months, we kicked off of our organisation and ability to invest in growth with the 2015 World Championships in Kazan where opportunities. our team finished with three dual world champions in Bronte Campbell, Mitch Larkin and Emily A special mention must go to Speedo who have Seebohm. done such a wonderful job outfitting the Dolphins over many years. They produced Olympic and The IPC World Championships were conducted in Paralympic swimwear that delighted our athletes and Glasgow where teenagers Maddie Elliott and Tiffany that each of them wore with pride, including the Thomas Kane picked up world titles and set new iconic gold cap which epitomises the Australian world records in their respective events. Swim team. Back on home-soil and into 2016, the Hancock We thank our high performance partners, the Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships, Australian Sports Commission and the Australian were an absolute highlight as Adelaide played host Institute of Sport who have not only funded our to the best swimmers from across the country as they sport, but have been partners in our delivery.

Load more