Swimming Australia
Encyclopedia
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. The body oversees the management and development of the sport from the national team at the elite level, the conduct of national and international events, through to grass roots participation. The organisation's vision is to become Australia’s leading sport through increased participation, continual outstanding performance and commercial excellence.
.
This interest led to the creation of the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, the precursor to Swimming Australia, which was founded in 1909 at a meeting of state swimming representaties at the Sports Club on Hunter Street
in Sydney's CBD
. There they established a charter which included the key features of the promotion of uniformity of rules and regulations across Australia; the adjudication all matters of disputes between affiliated associations; the control and management of swimmers visiting Australia; the control and management of Australian representatives in any contest of international nature; and control the recognition of all "best on record" performances.
Within a short time the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia had extended its charter to include negotiation with the recently formed Fédération Internationale de Natation
(FINA).
James Taylor was the foundation president and served for the first 35 years of the body's existence from 1909 to 1944.
During 1985, under a new corporate structure, the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory
and became Australian Swimming Inc.
On 1 October 2004, Australian Swimming became a company limited by guarantee
and changed its name to Swimming Australia Ltd. Glenn Tasker served as the Chief Executive Officer
until June 2008 (this position is currently vacant) and the organisation's headquarters is located at Unit 12, 7 Beissel Street, Belconnen
, ACT.
Swimming Australia is affiliated to the following bodies:
Whilst the following organisations are affiliated with Swimming Australia:
Swimming Australia is also a foundation member of AUSTSWIM and is presently involved in the development of an Australian Water Safety Organisation.
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...
in Australia
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...
. The body currently has approximately 90,000 registered members nationally in 1100 clubs across the country, which includes swimmers, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers. The body oversees the management and development of the sport from the national team at the elite level, the conduct of national and international events, through to grass roots participation. The organisation's vision is to become Australia’s leading sport through increased participation, continual outstanding performance and commercial excellence.
History
Competitive national swimming championships were first held in 1894. Australia had swimmers at most major international swimming events since the 1896 Summer Olympics1896 Summer Olympics
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era...
.
This interest led to the creation of the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, the precursor to Swimming Australia, which was founded in 1909 at a meeting of state swimming representaties at the Sports Club on Hunter Street
Hunter Street, Sydney
Hunter Street is a cross street in the Central Business District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It stretches from George Street in the west to Macquarie St in the east. The street was originally named Bell Street. It is named after Governor Hunter, the second Governor of NSW....
in Sydney's CBD
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
. There they established a charter which included the key features of the promotion of uniformity of rules and regulations across Australia; the adjudication all matters of disputes between affiliated associations; the control and management of swimmers visiting Australia; the control and management of Australian representatives in any contest of international nature; and control the recognition of all "best on record" performances.
Within a short time the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia had extended its charter to include negotiation with the recently formed Fédération Internationale de Natation
International Swimming Federation
Fédération Internationale de Natation is the International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competition in the aquatic sports...
(FINA).
James Taylor was the foundation president and served for the first 35 years of the body's existence from 1909 to 1944.
During 1985, under a new corporate structure, the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
and became Australian Swimming Inc.
On 1 October 2004, Australian Swimming became a company limited by guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
and changed its name to Swimming Australia Ltd. Glenn Tasker served as the Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
until June 2008 (this position is currently vacant) and the organisation's headquarters is located at Unit 12, 7 Beissel Street, Belconnen
Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory
Belconnen is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the district of Belconnen. It contains the Belconnen Town Centre, Lake Ginninderra and several residential areas. It is bounded by Ginninderra Drive, Aikman Drive, Eastern Valley Way, Belconnen Way and Coulter Drive...
, ACT.
Australian Swimmers of the Year
Every year Swimming Australia has its annual awards night where it announces many awards, most notably the night is the Australian Swimmer of the Year Award.| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Glen Housman Glen Housman Glen Clifford Housman was an Australian long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1980s and 1990s, who won the silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics... |
| 1991 | Hayley Lewis Hayley Lewis Hayley Jane Lewis is a retired Australian swimmer best known for winning five gold medals and one bronze at the 1990 Commonwealth Games as a 15-year-old.... |
| 1992 | Kieren Perkins Kieren Perkins Kieren John Perkins OAM , is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 in the 1500-metre freestyle, and a silver medal in 2000.... |
| 1993 | Kieren Perkins Kieren Perkins Kieren John Perkins OAM , is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 in the 1500-metre freestyle, and a silver medal in 2000.... |
| 1994 | Kieren Perkins Kieren Perkins Kieren John Perkins OAM , is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 in the 1500-metre freestyle, and a silver medal in 2000.... |
| 1995 | Susie O'Neill |
| 1996 | Susie O'Neill |
| 1997 | 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... |
| 1998 | 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... |
| 1999 | 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... |
| 2000 | 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... |
| 2001 | 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... |
| 2002 | 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... |
| 2003 | 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... 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... |
| 2004 | 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.... |
| 2005 | 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... |
| 2006 | Leisel Jones Leisel Jones Leisel Marie Jones OAM is an Australian Olympic gold medalist swimmer. A participant in the 2000 Summer Olympics – at just 15 years old – and 2004 Summer Olympics, she was part of gold medal winning Australian team in the women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the Athens Games in 2004 and a gold... |
| 2007 | Libby Lenton Libby Lenton Lisbeth "Libby" Constance Trickett OAM is a world record holding and Olympic gold medalist swimmer from Australia. She was a gold medallist at both the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is the world record holder in the short-course 100 metres freestyle... |
| 2008 | Stephanie Rice Stephanie Rice Stephanie Louise Rice OAM is an Australian swimmer. She currently holds the world record in the 400 m women's individual medley, and won three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Rice is trained by Michael Bohl from the St Peters Western Swimming Club in Brisbane... |
| 2009 | Jessicah Schipper Jessicah Schipper Jessicah Lee Schipper OAM is an Australian swimmer. She trained at the Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton club in Brisbane, under veteran coach Ken Wood up until the conclusion of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Schipper now trains under the guidance of Stephan Widmer with the Commercial Swimming Club... |
| 2010 | Alicia Coutts Alicia Coutts Alicia Jayne Coutts is an Australian medley, butterfly and freestyle swimmer. She represented Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games .-Career:... |
Stakeholders and affiliations
Swimming Australia's key stakeholders includes:- Swimming New South Wales
- Swimming Victoria
- Swimming Queensland
- Swimming South Australia
- Swimming Western Australia
- Swimming Tasmania
- Swimming Northern Territory
- Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA)
- Australian Swimmers Association
Swimming Australia is affiliated to the following bodies:
- The Fédération Internationale de NatationInternational Swimming FederationFédération Internationale de Natation is the International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee for administering international competition in the aquatic sports...
(FINA) - The Australian Olympic CommitteeAustralian Olympic CommitteeThe 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...
(AOC) - The Australian Commonwealth Games AssociationAustralian Commonwealth Games AssociationThe Australian Commonwealth Games Association is the national body responsible for Commonwealth Games operations, publicity and development in Australia, specifically providing and organising funding, clothing, travel, accommodation and accreditation of athletes and officials to each Commonwealth...
(ACGA) - Australian Paralympic Committee (APC)
- Oceania Swimming AssociationOceania Swimming AssociationThe Oceania Swimming Association is the continental governing body recognised by FINA, for the national governing bodies of swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming and masters swimming in Oceania....
Whilst the following organisations are affiliated with Swimming Australia:
- Australian Waterpolo Association Inc
- Australian Diving Association Inc
- Australian Synchronised Swimming
- AUSSI Masters Swimming in Australia
Swimming Australia is also a foundation member of AUSTSWIM and is presently involved in the development of an Australian Water Safety Organisation.