During the 2012 Global Open Water Swimming Conference on September 22nd, Swimming Australia will be recognized with a Certificate of Merit by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
Chris Guesdon explains, “I was the Honorary Secretary of the Swimming Australia Open Water Committee from 1988 to 2000. This was the period when the Certificate of Merit was awarded to Swimming Australia.”
The recognition reads, “The Open Water Committee of Swimming Australia under the direction of Clive Berry Rickard put in place a substantial high performance and development programme. This enabled Australia to lead the world with its well-organised competition and administrative structure.
This structure stood Australia well when organising the open water discipline of the three FINA World Aquatic Championships it conducted [with Kevin Holtom as Technical Director] in 1991 and 1998 in Perth and 2007 in Melbourne.”
With its celebration of Australian marathon swimmer Trent Grimsey‘s world record in the English Channel today, Aussie voices are heard ’round the world…
“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Aussie!
Oi!
Aussie!
Oi!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Oi! Oi! Oi!“
Photo of Trent Grimsey by Michael Oram shortly after setting English Channel world record of 6 hours 55 minutes.
Copyright © 2012 by World Open Water Swimming Association