Scott Miller (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
Scott Andrew Miller is an Australia
n butterfly swimmer, who competed at the Atlanta Olympics
, winning a silver and bronze medal.
Coached by Barry Prime, the Manly
-born swimmer emerged onto the international scene as a 19 year old at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
, where he won the 100 m butterfly and the 4×100 m medley relay. In 1995, he became the World Short Course champion in the 200 m butterfly, and established himself as a contender for the Atlanta Olympics. While competing at the Pan Pacific Championships in Atlanta that year, he was imprisoned for a night after intervening in a fight outside a nightclub. He was later cleared of wrongdoing.
In Atlanta, Miller was the fastest qualifier for the 100 m butterfly final, setting a new Olympic record of 52.89s in his heat, raising Australian hopes of a first gold at these Olympics. However, Denis Pankratov
, representing Russia
had other ideas, who had reserved a rather controversial technique for the final. Pankratov employed the "submarine" technique of underwater swimming, which involved diving into the water and gliding underwater for as long as possible(as humans can dive quicker than they can swim). At the time, it was illegal for breaststrokers and backstrokers to stay underwater for more than 25 m after the dive, but this did not apply to butterfly. Pankratov glided underwater for 35 m and surfaced well clear, reaching the 50 m mark with a lead of roughly 1 m. Despite Miller's determined run home, he touched in 52.53 s to claim the silver medal, 0.36 s behind Pankratov, who broke a nine-year-old world record in 52.27 s.
After the race, Australian head coach Don Talbot
was full of praise for Miller's efforts - I haven't seen a swimmer come back as hard as Miller did. I've got to hand it to him. Miller also claimed a second medal; he combined with Michael Klim
, Steven Dewick
and Phil Rogers
to claim bronze in the 4×100 m medley relay.
Miller had a difficult time upon his return to Australia. He was dismissed from the Australian Institute of Sport
for repeatedly missing training sessions, and spent 1997 on the sidelines due to injury. Miller reappeared in the headlines in late 1997 when he tested positive to marijuana and was suspended by FINA
for two months in 1998, despite his protestations. On his return from suspension, he had been surpassed by Klim and Geoff Huegill
and was unable to gain selection for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He later made another comeback after the Sydney Olympics, but did not make any further impressions. In 2004, a horse named Krayzelburg
which Miller part-owned with other swimming identities won the Sydney Entertainment Centre Trophy.
Miller was charged on 16 April 2008 after police allegedly seized a commercial pill press, drugs and cash in a raid on a storage facility in Brookvale
on Sydney
's northern beaches.
Police also allegedly found capsicum spray and steroids, a loaded revolver, tablets believed to be ecstasy
, powder believed to be methamphetamine
and $240 000 cash. Miller was charged with possessing a prescribed restricted substance and possessing an offensive weapon. He was released on bail to appear at Manly Local Court on 7 May 2008.
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 butterfly swimmer, who competed at the Atlanta Olympics
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....
, winning a silver and bronze medal.
Coached by Barry Prime, the Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
-born swimmer emerged onto the international scene as a 19 year old at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 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, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he won the 100 m butterfly and the 4×100 m medley relay. In 1995, he became the World Short Course champion in the 200 m butterfly, and established himself as a contender for the Atlanta Olympics. While competing at the Pan Pacific Championships in Atlanta that year, he was imprisoned for a night after intervening in a fight outside a nightclub. He was later cleared of wrongdoing.
In Atlanta, Miller was the fastest qualifier for the 100 m butterfly final, setting a new Olympic record of 52.89s in his heat, raising Australian hopes of a first gold at these Olympics. However, Denis Pankratov
Denis Pankratov
Denis Pankratov is a retired Russian butterfly swimmer of the 1990s, who was best known for winning the butterfly double at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA in a unique style. His 100 m butterfly triumph is particularly remembered for his swimming over 25 m of the first lap...
, representing Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
had other ideas, who had reserved a rather controversial technique for the final. Pankratov employed the "submarine" technique of underwater swimming, which involved diving into the water and gliding underwater for as long as possible(as humans can dive quicker than they can swim). At the time, it was illegal for breaststrokers and backstrokers to stay underwater for more than 25 m after the dive, but this did not apply to butterfly. Pankratov glided underwater for 35 m and surfaced well clear, reaching the 50 m mark with a lead of roughly 1 m. Despite Miller's determined run home, he touched in 52.53 s to claim the silver medal, 0.36 s behind Pankratov, who broke a nine-year-old world record in 52.27 s.
After the race, Australian head coach Don Talbot
Don Talbot
Don Talbot OBE is an Olympic swimming coach from Australia. He has coached national teams for Canada and Australia.-Canada:Since the 1950s Talbot has coached Olympic champions and World Record holders for a thirty year period...
was full of praise for Miller's efforts - I haven't seen a swimmer come back as hard as Miller did. I've got to hand it to him. Miller also claimed a second medal; he combined with Michael Klim
Michael Klim
Michael Klim OAM is a Polish-born Australian swimmer. He was born in Gdynia. He was educated at the University High School, Melbourne and Wesley College, Melbourne where he is currently employed as the College's elite Head Coach of swimming...
, Steven Dewick
Steven Dewick
Steven Dennis Dewick is an Australian backstroke swimmer, who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics....
and Phil Rogers
Phil Rogers
Philip John Rogers is a former breaststroke swimmer who competed in three consequentive Summer Olympics for Australia, starting in 1992....
to claim bronze in the 4×100 m medley relay.
Miller had a difficult time upon his return to Australia. He was dismissed from the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
for repeatedly missing training sessions, and spent 1997 on the sidelines due to injury. Miller reappeared in the headlines in late 1997 when he tested positive to marijuana and was suspended by FINA
Fina
Fina may refer to:*Fina, a character in the Skies of Arcadia video game*FINA, the International Swimming Federation*FINA, the North American Forum on Integration...
for two months in 1998, despite his protestations. On his return from suspension, he had been surpassed by Klim and Geoff Huegill
Geoff Huegill
Geoffrey Andrew Huegill , nicknamed Skippy and Skip, is an Australian butterfly swimmer...
and was unable to gain selection for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He later made another comeback after the Sydney Olympics, but did not make any further impressions. In 2004, a horse named Krayzelburg
Lenny Krayzelburg
Lenny Krayzelburg is an American backstroke swimmer, and Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder. He swam in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He won a total of 4 Olympic gold medals....
which Miller part-owned with other swimming identities won the Sydney Entertainment Centre Trophy.
Miller was charged on 16 April 2008 after police allegedly seized a commercial pill press, drugs and cash in a raid on a storage facility in Brookvale
Brookvale, New South Wales
Brookvale is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brookvale is located 16 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region.-History:The first development in...
on Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's northern beaches.
Police also allegedly found capsicum spray and steroids, a loaded revolver, tablets believed to be ecstasy
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
MDMA is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs. In popular culture, MDMA has become widely known as "ecstasy" , usually referring to its street pill form, although this term may also include the presence of possible adulterants...
, powder believed to be methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
and $240 000 cash. Miller was charged with possessing a prescribed restricted substance and possessing an offensive weapon. He was released on bail to appear at Manly Local Court on 7 May 2008.