Kieren Perkins
Encyclopedia
Kieren John Perkins OAM
(born 14 August 1973), is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers
, he won two Olympic gold medal
s in 1992
and 1996
in the 1500-metre freestyle
, and a silver medal in 2000
.
where he attended Indooroopilly State Primary School and Brisbane Boys' College
.
He began swimming regularly at age eight as part of his rehabilitation from a serious leg injury (after running through a plate glass window). At age 13 his potential became obvious, and with coach John Carew guiding him he won his first national medal in 1989 and a Commonwealth medal by 1990.
By 1992 he dominated the 1500 m event, demolishing a long-standing world record
. He dominated the event at the Barcelona Olympic games, lowering the record to 14 minutes, 43 seconds – a massive improvement. He was also the world record holder in the 400 m freestyle, but this was broken by the Russian Yevgeny Sadovyi
in Barcelona, relegating Perkins to silver.
At the 1994 Commonwealth Games
Perkins broke the 400 m, 800 m, and 1500 m freestyle world records. The 800 m record was broken while swimming the 1500 m event. The 400 m record stood until it was broken by fellow Australian Ian Thorpe
in 1999, and the 800 m and 1500 m records until 2001 when broken by Thorpe and Grant Hackett
respectively. His performances in that year earned him the Male World Swimmer of the Year award from the Swimming World
magazine.
At the time of the 1996 Olympics, Perkins was out of form and long-time Australian rival Daniel Kowalski
was regarded as the favourite. He qualified for the final by a mere 0.24 seconds and it was later revealed that Perkins felt unwell and considered not swimming. From lane eight, Perkins dominated the race, again relegating Kowalski to his perennial bridesmaid position. Despite being world record holder, he failed to qualify for the 400m freestyle in April, finishing third at the Australian Championships.
After his Atlanta triumph, some commentators were surprised when Perkins decided to continue competing, particularly as the rise of Grant Hackett
, yet another Australian distance swimmer, made it seem unlikely that Perkins could win again. However, the lure of a home Olympics was too much for Perkins. Hackett completed his rise to the top by beating Perkins, who took the silver medal in a respectable time of under 15 minutes.
Perkins has always presented a clean-cut, well-spoken image to the public, similar in many ways to Ian Thorpe
. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked in the broadcast media. He is a current board member of Swimming Australia
. He married in 1997 and has three children Harry, Georgia and Charlie with wife Symantha. The couple received condolences from a number of people in sports broadcasting after suffering "three heartbreaking miscarriages before having their third child [Charlie], and Symantha underwent radical surgery [in 2007] to combat severe migraines." Symantha has since recovered her health.
In the Australia Day Honours of 1992, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
(OA). He is an Australian Living Treasure
.
in Victoria, Canada, Perkins was nearly sent home in disgrace after he fired an air pistol inside the athletes' village. The head coach at the time wanted to send him home, but Australian team boss Arthur Tunstall intervened and he was subsequently allowed to stay.
In 2004, Perkins courted controversy when he stated that he felt the public's pressure for Craig Stevens
to give up his spot in order to reinstate defending 400m champion Ian Thorpe
to the event after being disqualified was "disgusting".
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 14 August 1973), is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, he won two Olympic gold medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s in 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in the 1500-metre freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, and a silver medal in 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
Biography
Perkins was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
where he attended Indooroopilly State Primary School and Brisbane Boys' College
Brisbane Boys' College
Brisbane Boys' College , is an independent, Presbyterian and Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Toowong, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
.
He began swimming regularly at age eight as part of his rehabilitation from a serious leg injury (after running through a plate glass window). At age 13 his potential became obvious, and with coach John Carew guiding him he won his first national medal in 1989 and a Commonwealth medal by 1990.
By 1992 he dominated the 1500 m event, demolishing a long-standing world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
. He dominated the event at the Barcelona Olympic games, lowering the record to 14 minutes, 43 seconds – a massive improvement. He was also the world record holder in the 400 m freestyle, but this was broken by the Russian Yevgeny Sadovyi
Yevgeny Sadovyi
Yevgeny Viktorovich Sadovyi is a retired Russian freestyle swimmer who won three gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics at Barcelona and was subsequently chosen by Swimming World magazine as the Male World Swimmer of the Year.-Career:...
in Barcelona, relegating Perkins to silver.
At the 1994 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
Perkins broke the 400 m, 800 m, and 1500 m freestyle world records. The 800 m record was broken while swimming the 1500 m event. The 400 m record stood until it was broken by fellow Australian Ian Thorpe
Ian Thorpe
Ian James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most...
in 1999, and the 800 m and 1500 m records until 2001 when broken by Thorpe and Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett OAM is an Australian former swimmer most famous for winning the men's 1500 metres freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This achievement has led him to be regarded as one of the greatest distance swimmers in history...
respectively. His performances in that year earned him the Male World Swimmer of the Year award from the Swimming World
Swimming World magazine
Swimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
magazine.
At the time of the 1996 Olympics, Perkins was out of form and long-time Australian rival Daniel Kowalski
Daniel Kowalski
Daniel Steven Kowalski is a former Australian middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200 m, 400 m and 1,500 m individual freestyle events and in the 4x200 m freestyle relay...
was regarded as the favourite. He qualified for the final by a mere 0.24 seconds and it was later revealed that Perkins felt unwell and considered not swimming. From lane eight, Perkins dominated the race, again relegating Kowalski to his perennial bridesmaid position. Despite being world record holder, he failed to qualify for the 400m freestyle in April, finishing third at the Australian Championships.
After his Atlanta triumph, some commentators were surprised when Perkins decided to continue competing, particularly as the rise of Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett OAM is an Australian former swimmer most famous for winning the men's 1500 metres freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This achievement has led him to be regarded as one of the greatest distance swimmers in history...
, yet another Australian distance swimmer, made it seem unlikely that Perkins could win again. However, the lure of a home Olympics was too much for Perkins. Hackett completed his rise to the top by beating Perkins, who took the silver medal in a respectable time of under 15 minutes.
Perkins has always presented a clean-cut, well-spoken image to the public, similar in many ways to Ian Thorpe
Ian Thorpe
Ian James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most...
. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked in the broadcast media. He is a current board member of Swimming Australia
Swimming Australia
Swimming Australia is the peak governing body for competitive swimming in Australia. The body currently has approximately 90,000 registered members nationally in 1100 clubs across the country, which includes swimmers, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers...
. He married in 1997 and has three children Harry, Georgia and Charlie with wife Symantha. The couple received condolences from a number of people in sports broadcasting after suffering "three heartbreaking miscarriages before having their third child [Charlie], and Symantha underwent radical surgery [in 2007] to combat severe migraines." Symantha has since recovered her health.
In the Australia Day Honours of 1992, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OA). He is an Australian Living Treasure
Australian Living Treasures
Australian Living Treasures are people who have been nominated by the National Trust of Australia. The first list of 100 Living Treasures was published in 1997....
.
Controversy
During the 1994 Commonwealth Games1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
in Victoria, Canada, Perkins was nearly sent home in disgrace after he fired an air pistol inside the athletes' village. The head coach at the time wanted to send him home, but Australian team boss Arthur Tunstall intervened and he was subsequently allowed to stay.
In 2004, Perkins courted controversy when he stated that he felt the public's pressure for Craig Stevens
Craig Stevens (swimmer)
Craig Stevens is an Australian freestyle swimmer specialising in the 400 m. 800 m and 1500 m freestyle events....
to give up his spot in order to reinstate defending 400m champion Ian Thorpe
Ian Thorpe
Ian James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most...
to the event after being disqualified was "disgusting".
See also
- Commonwealth Games records in swimmingCommonwealth Games records in swimmingBelow is a complete list of the Commonwealth Games records in swimming, ratified by the Commonwealth Games Federation . Competition is held in long course pools.-Men's events:-Women's events:...
- World record progression 1500 metres freestyleWorld record progression 1500 metres freestyleThe first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908...
Further reading
- Carew, J., et al. (1997) "Kieren Perkins". Sydney, Pan Macmillan, ISBN 0-330-35866-9.