Arthur Cusack
Encyclopedia
Arthur Cusack was an Australia
n Olympic swimming coach in the 1950s and 1960s.
. David Thiele was initially coached by Ramsay, but soon switched to Cusack, even though Cusack was thought to be a difficult coach by many swimmers, as he would require long, tiring sessions in the pool. In 1958, Cusack left Maryborough.
In 1962, Cusack was appointed as a coach on the Australian 1962 Commonwealth Games team in Perth.
In the mid-60s, Cusack took over the lease of the Centenary Pool in Brisbane. It was from here that he would take on the coaching of his nephew Robert Cusack
into the Australian Olympic Team. In 1970, Cusack was again named as a coach on the Australian Commonwealth Games team for the Edinburgh Games
, this time as coach of the Women's team.
, who won gold in the 100m backstroke
in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
and the 1960 Rome Olympics
. He won the silver in the 4 x 100m Medley Relay team at the same games in Rome.
Arthur Cusack coached his nephew Robert Cusack
, who won a bronze medal along with Michael Wenden
, Bob Windle
and Greg Rogers
in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
. He coached Ann Margaret Nelson, a finalist in the 110-yard backstroke in the Cardiff
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
, where she finished fifth with a time of 1.15.5, behind Judy Grinham of England.
Arthur Cusack is the great uncle of Simon Cusack, Robert Cusack's son. Simon Cusack is the head Coach of Indooroopilly Swimming Club, where he coaches Australian swimmers Cate Campbell
and triple Olympic Gold medalist Jodie Henry
.
in his quest for Olympic gold. This new turning technique was seen as suspect by some officials during the heats of the 100m backstroke at the 1956 Olympics, who wanted Theile to give a demonstration for their review, a request Cusack refused. The turn was not subsequently used by Thiele during the final, but during the 1957 Queensland Championships, Theile was disqualified for the only time in his career when officials ruled that the turning style was illegal. This turning style was soon adopted by other swimmers, and is still used today.
for many years. He is a Merit Award Recipient and is on the Honour Roll of the Australian Olympic Committee
, - Queensland Olympic Council for his services to Olympic Swimming and the Olympic Movement in Australia.
On 24 December 2007, at the Queensland Swimming championships in Brisbane, Queensland, Arthur Cusack was posthumously inducted into the Queensland Swimming Association Hall of Fame.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Olympic swimming coach in the 1950s and 1960s.
Early career
In 1938, at 18 years old, Cusack became the Secretary of the newly formed Maryborough Amateur Swimming Club. He, along with Des Ramsay, became a Coach at the club at the end of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. David Thiele was initially coached by Ramsay, but soon switched to Cusack, even though Cusack was thought to be a difficult coach by many swimmers, as he would require long, tiring sessions in the pool. In 1958, Cusack left Maryborough.
In 1962, Cusack was appointed as a coach on the Australian 1962 Commonwealth Games team in Perth.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
In the mid-60s, Cusack took over the lease of the Centenary Pool in Brisbane. It was from here that he would take on the coaching of his nephew Robert Cusack
Robert Cusack
Robert Cusack was an Australian butterfly and freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics....
into the Australian Olympic Team. In 1970, Cusack was again named as a coach on the Australian Commonwealth Games team for the Edinburgh Games
1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
, this time as coach of the Women's team.
Coaching highlights
Arthur Cusack was the coach of Olympic Gold medal winner David TheileDavid Theile
David Egmont Theile , was an Australian backstroke swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won consecutive gold medals in the 100 m backstroke at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics, the only Australian to do so...
, who won gold in the 100m backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
and the 1960 Rome Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. He won the silver in the 4 x 100m Medley Relay team at the same games in Rome.
Arthur Cusack coached his nephew Robert Cusack
Robert Cusack
Robert Cusack was an Australian butterfly and freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics....
, who won a bronze medal along with Michael Wenden
Michael Wenden
Michael Vincent Wenden AM MBE was a champion swimmer who represented Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics...
, Bob Windle
Bob Windle
Robert George "Bob" Windle is a former Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won four Olympic medals, including an individual gold medal...
and Greg Rogers
Greg Rogers
Gregory Rogers was an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a silver and bronze medal in the 4x200m and 4x100m freestyle relays respectively at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics...
in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
. He coached Ann Margaret Nelson, a finalist in the 110-yard backstroke in the Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18–26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya...
, where she finished fifth with a time of 1.15.5, behind Judy Grinham of England.
Arthur Cusack is the great uncle of Simon Cusack, Robert Cusack's son. Simon Cusack is the head Coach of Indooroopilly Swimming Club, where he coaches Australian swimmers Cate Campbell
Cate Campbell
Cate Campbell is an Australian swimmer who won two bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Her family moved from Malawi to Australia in 2001 and it was shortly after this Campbell took up competitive swimming...
and triple Olympic Gold medalist Jodie Henry
Jodie Henry
Jodie Clare Henry OAM is an Australian swimmer, Olympic gold medalist and former world-record holder.-Swimming career:Jodie Henry began swimming competitively at the relatively late age of 14....
.
New turning technique
Arthur Cusack introduced a backstroke turn and a bent-arm stroke to assist David TheileDavid Theile
David Egmont Theile , was an Australian backstroke swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won consecutive gold medals in the 100 m backstroke at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics, the only Australian to do so...
in his quest for Olympic gold. This new turning technique was seen as suspect by some officials during the heats of the 100m backstroke at the 1956 Olympics, who wanted Theile to give a demonstration for their review, a request Cusack refused. The turn was not subsequently used by Thiele during the final, but during the 1957 Queensland Championships, Theile was disqualified for the only time in his career when officials ruled that the turning style was illegal. This turning style was soon adopted by other swimmers, and is still used today.
Awards and recognition
Cusack was a member of the Australian Olympic CommitteeAustralian Olympic Committee
The Australian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in Australia for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams, and raises funds to send Australian competitors to Olympic events organised by the International Olympic Committee .-Background:The...
for many years. He is a Merit Award Recipient and is on the Honour Roll of the Australian Olympic Committee
Australian Olympic Committee
The Australian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in Australia for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams, and raises funds to send Australian competitors to Olympic events organised by the International Olympic Committee .-Background:The...
, - Queensland Olympic Council for his services to Olympic Swimming and the Olympic Movement in Australia.
On 24 December 2007, at the Queensland Swimming championships in Brisbane, Queensland, Arthur Cusack was posthumously inducted into the Queensland Swimming Association Hall of Fame.