australian swimming 93rd annual report 2001/2002

Conference on the Gold Coast. The forum was
aimed at identifying and addressing the needs
of female coaches at both the developing and
elite end. This was a first for ASI and ASCTA.
The Forum feedback has indicated to ASI the
need to provide some support in the form of
mentoring for female coaches and that
opportunities should be provided for elite
female coaches.
ASI continues to work closely with a number of
the bodies within the aquatic industry through
such forums as the Australian Water Safety
Council and Austswim. ASI is also very active in
establishing links with AUSSI Masters. It is a
high priority of ASI to develop and consolidate
links to all the major players in the aquatics
industry in this country.
Australian Swimming has been a leader in the
sporting community with its adoption of a
Member Protection Policy aimed at providing a
harassment free environment and maximum
level of protection for our individual members
in the sport of swimming. Over the ensuing 12
months ASI, in association with the State
a÷liates, will be assisting clubs in
implementing the member protection policy.
ASI believes that this is a significant step in
providing safe sport for all those in swimming.
Disability Services
kylie albers coordinator
Australian Swimming is justifiably proud of its
promotion of events for athletes with a
disability. This continued in 2001–2002 and it
is now obvious that the competitors are
becoming more and more professional in their
approach to the Australian Championships.
The 2002 Telstra Australian Championships
saw a large increase in the number of
swimmers with a disability (SWD) competing.
Thirty-eight male athletes and thirty-five
female athletes entered, which was
approximately three times the numbers in
2001. The events were given full Championship
status and swimmers gained points for their
Clubs and States, as per the able-bodied
swimmers. The Championships were also the
selection trials for the four elite athletes with a
disability (EAD) for the Commonwealth Games
in Manchester. These events were open to
classes S1 to S13, and included the male and
female 50m and 100m Freestyle. The events
were scheduled in the program in the exact
same spots they will be held in Manchester.
For the first time, Channel 9 televised two of
the disability events live to air. They chose the
two 50m Freestyle Commonwealth Games
Trial events. They also showed the two 100m
Freestyle events in their delayed package.
The feedback from the general public was
fantastic with many emails and faxes received
after the event complementing the
commentary and coverage. There was also
considerable print media coverage on some
of the athletes. The disability component
continues to improve and expand.
Grand Prix 1 was held in Cairns and multidisability
events were incorporated for the first
time. Swimmers were integrated into the two
justin norris
2001 Male Individual Medley Swimmer of the Year
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