australian swimming 93rd annual report 2001/2002

36 from the states
exposure to international competition in a fast
paced, loud environment. Melbourne is again
hosting the Telstra World Cup in 2002, and we
implore you to get along to the meet to watch
the world’s best, and support your developing
Victorian swimmers.
The Victorian State Championships were
conducted in early January at MSAC, with the
Open competition running for four days, and
the Age Competition running for five days. The
runaway winner for the meet was the
Melbourne Vicentre Club from Nunawading
and Carey Aquatic. Michael Klim was
presented with his Life Membership to
Swimming Victoria. Michael then proceeded to
jump into the MSAC pool and win the Men’s
100m freestyle in a blistering time of 49.41 to
set a new Victorian All comers Record.
Congratulations go to Michael and his team of
supporters, who have successfully worked
through a fantastic career spanning seven
years at the elite international level. The meet
was proudly supported by Yarra Valley Water,
who supplied our competitors with sport
prizes and other rewards throughout the
Championships.
During January and February, Swimming
Victoria was represented internationally at
several European World Cup Meets including
Paris, Imperia, Berlin and Stockholm. Coach
Rohan Taylor (Carey Aquatic) was a part of this
tour and led one of his young charges, Sarah
Kasoulis to some outstanding results. Another
Victorian to tour was Edward Roche
(Melbourne Vicentre), who after many National
Championships, two World University Games
Teams, and one World Short Course Team in
2000 retired after the tour.
The 2002 Australian Championships and
Commonwealth Games Selection Trials were
held in Brisbane, with Swimming Victoria
placing four members on the team. Matt Welsh
(Melbourne Vicentre), Brooke Hanson
(Nunawading), Ray Hass (Firbank Aquastars)
and Sarah Kasoulis (Carey Aquatic) were all
selected on the team. Congratulations go to
Matt for making his first Commonwealth
Games Team, Brooke for making her second
team (she swam in 1994 at Victoria, Canada)
and Sarah for making her first Australian
Swimming Team by swimming above
expectations. For the first time, Elite Athletes
with a Disability (EAD) have been selected to
swim in the Commonwealth Games Team with
an integrated program being introduced.
Alex Harris (GAC Sharks) swam himself onto
the Commonwealth Games Team and looks
to perform very well in Manchester.
The season finished with the Australian Age
Championships in Sydney. Swimming Victoria
unearthed some wonderful talent at this meet.
Southern Bay Swimming was the top placed
Victorian Club at the meet. Glenn Baker would
later be named the Australian Swimming
Coaches and Teachers Association Rookie
Coach of the Year—a great honour for any
coach. Andrew Lauterstein (Southern Bay) won
numerous gold medals, and broke a National
Record in the 100m butterfly. The other winner
from the meet was Joel Miller (Aquabears) in
the 100m breaststroke.
We thank our terrific o÷cials and club and
district administrators for their support, as too
all our sponsors, our friends at MSAC and
Sport and Recreation Victoria. Thanks to ASI
and our fellow swimming administrations
around the country for their continued support
and input. We look forward to the next twelve
months as we continue to get ready for the
greatest Commonwealth Games ever in 2006!
Laurie Cox Ron Bongetti
president executive director
Western Australia
In Western Australia, it has been a year of
excitement, new challenges, fierce
competitions and new initiatives, indicating
the promise of even better days ahead for the
sport of swimming within our great State.
Excitement came during the World
Championships in Fukuoka Japan, where four
WA swimmers, Jennifer Reilly, Antony
Matkovich, Todd Pearson and William Kirby
competed. Through there outstanding e≈orts
with three gold medals came home to WA.
Immediately following the Championships,
WAhosted the Telstra Australian Short Course,
which was a great success with several world
records broken. Todd Pearson and Jennifer Reilly
were the sole individual medallists for WA.
WA was well represented at the 2002 Telstra
Australian Open Championships, with seven
individual medals won during the competition
by Jennifer Reilly, Todd Pearson, Tammie Smith,
Jonathon Van Hazel and Travis Nederpelt.
The 2002 Australian Age Championships was
one of the most successful meets ever for WA
Swimmers. Our Team came home with the
largest cache of medals in anyone’s memory.
There were 21 Gold, 23 Silver and 20 Bronze in
the pool including State and Club Relays and 4
Gold and 1 Silver in the 5km Open Water Event.
In addition, the swimmers broke 66 Western
Australian Records, and there is a strong field
of young talent coming through behind the
current leaders. Our Open Water competitors
performed very creditably at both Age and
Open competitions.