Olympic gold medallists Michelle Ford and David Theile, prolific Paralympic gold medallist Matthew Cowdrey and 6 time Olympic medallist Sir Frank Beaurepaire have been inducted into the Swimming Australia Corridor of Fame.
The 2025 Swimming Australia Awards yesterday celebrated the most recent Corridor of Fame inductees, recognising the extraordinary achievements of 4 legends of Australian Swimming.
Beaurepaire (Dolphin #3), arguably the best freestyler throughout three a long time, breaking 14 world information; Cowdrey (Dolphin #P224) Australia’s most profitable Paralympian with 13 gold medals throughout three Para Video games; Australia’s first two-time back-to-back Olympic gold medal successful backstroker Theile (Dolphin #103) and Australia’s solely particular person Olympic gold medallist from the 1980 Moscoe Video games in Michelle Ford (Dolphin #254) –
The foursome becoming a member of a who’s who of the game – preliminary inductees Freddie Lane, Fanny Durack, Daybreak Fraser, Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe (2022); Lorraine Crapp, Murray Rose, Suzie O’Neill (2023) and Boy Charlton, Pfriya Cooper and Kieren Perkins (2024).
DAVID THEILE AO
Born: January 17, 1938
For the report (Olympic Video games): F Melbourne (1956): Gold (100m backstroke);Rome (1960): Gold (100m backstroke), silver (4x100m medley relay);Queensland and Australian Junior Champion: 1947Australian Champion: 1955.Australian Information: 1955 (100m Backstroke).
BACK-TO-BACK: Australia’d David Theile wins his second Olympic 100m backstroke gold in Rome. Pic drained with US silver medallist Frank McKinney (left) and bronze medallist Bob Bennett.Phoyo Courtesy Wikipedia.
On the 1960 Rome Olympics, David turned the one swimmer apart from a freestyler to win gold medals in two successive Olympics since World Warfare II, successful back-to-back 100m backstroke gold medals in each the 1956 Melbourne dwelling Olympics and 1960 Olympic Video games.
He started aggressive swimming aged 9 and have become the Queensland and Australian Junior backstroke Champion at 16, earlier than starting a five-year reign because the Australian open champion in 1955, at 17.
When Thiele set the Australian 100m backstroke report at 1:07.4 in 1955, he broke a 17-year-old report set within the yr he was born – 1938, (1:07.8 by Percy Oliver).
Thiele received the 100m backstroke crown on the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in world and Olympic report time, 1:02.2. In Rome 4 years later, he lowered his Olympic report to 1:01.9 for a second gold medal and was a part of the Australian silver medal medley relay.
Inducted into Sport Australia Corridor Of Fame: 1985
Inducted into Worldwide Swimming Corridor Of Fame: 1968
SIR FRANK BEAUREPAIRE
Born: Might 13, 1891; Died: Might 29, 1956; Age: 65
For the report (Olympic Video games): London (1908) Silver, 400m freestyle; bronze, 1500m freestyle; Antwerp (1920) Silver, 4x200m freestyle relay); bronze, 1500m freestyle); Paris (1924): Silver (4x200m freestyle relay; bronze, 1500m freestyle.World Information (14): 200m, 500m, 1000m, 1 mile freestyle);
FREESTYLE LEGEND: Sr Frank Beaurepaire.Picture Courtesy Herald Solar.
Usually recognised as the best swimmer throughout a number of eras within the early Twenties, Frank Beaurepaire swam the trudgen stroke in a aggressive profession that lasted from 1903 to 1924. Profitable a complete of six Olympic medals, – three silver and three bronze – throughout three Olympics (1908, 1929, 1924) a span of 16 years. The final – a second bronze within the 1500m behind Australian gold medallist Andrew “Boy” Charlton in Paris, 1924. Beaurepaire was 33.
In a exceptional profession, Beaurepaire set 5 world information from 200m to 500m in 1910, his finest yr, however was nonetheless setting information 11 years later, this time within the 1000m and the mile. In 1910 he toured Europe undefeated.
In all he set 15 world information over a 13-year span, successful 34 Australian titles, 79 Victorian titles and 11 British Championships.
Beaurepaire or “Bogey” as he was recognized, received greater than 200 top notch swimming championships and his quickest instances had been accomplished when he was previous 30 and his profession might have seen him obtain a lot extra. He was banned from the 1912 Video games for incomes cash as a swimming trainer, robbing him of additional honours, returning to the Olympic stage once more in 1920 and 1924.
Beaurepaire turned Melbourne’s Lord Mayor and was a principal organizer of the 1956 Olympics. He died of a coronary heart assault in a barber store in the midst of a sometimes full day in Might 1956, simply 5 months earlier than “his” Olympic Video games.
Inducted into Sport Australia Corridor Of Fame and Inducted into Worldwide Swimming Corridor Of Fame in 1967
MICHELLE FORD-ERIKSSON MBE
Born: July 15, 1962
For the report….
Olympic Video games: Moscow (1980) Gold, 800m Freestyle; bronze, 200m Butterfly); Two World Information (800m freestyle)
Commonwealth Video games: Edmonton (1978): Gold, 200m butterfly; silver 400m and 800m freestyle; bronze, 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay);
Brisbane (1982): Gold, 200m Butterfly; silver, 800m freestyle, Gained 4 Australian Nationwide Championships within the 200m butterfly
THRILLED: Michelle Ford on the gold medal podium. Picture Courtesy Russ McPhedran (Michelle Ford Assortment)
At age 13 Michelle broke 9 information, six NSW State and three Australian – all in three days. Two of these information had been by held by Corridor of Famer Shane Gould and world champion Jenny Turrall.
That very same yr she earned a spot on the 1976 Olympic workforce, the second youngest Australian ever to take action.
Only one yr later, Michelle set her first world report within the 800 freestyle. Little did she know her instances within the 800 freestyle would sometime beat the instances swum earlier by the immortal Murray Rose and John Konrads.
Michelle continued her successful streak on the 1978 Commonwealth Video games, taking a gold within the 200 butterfly, two silvers within the 400 and 800m freestyle and two bronze medals within the 200 freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay.
However Michelle Ford’s biggest feat got here within the boycotted Moscow 1980 Olympics beneath extraordinary circumstances following Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.
Profitable the gold medal within the 800 freestyle and conquering the may and energy of her East German opponents including bronze within the 200 butterfly.
A Video games that turned shrouded in a political firestorm following calls for from the Australian authorities to boycott the Video games.
However a defiant Olympic workforce that left Australian shores in 1980 beneath a cloak of darkness, heading off to secret coaching camps receiving demise threats and branded as traitors as they ready for the Video games.
Their blazers hidden of their baggage with a coat of arms tucked away relatively than sitting proudly on their chests, a lot of them youngsters, like Michelle Ford, thrust into the center of a political stoush that may outline their sporting futures – however remaining unrecognised by the Australian Authorities for 50 years.
“Competing within the Olympics helped outline every thing I’m at present,” mentioned Ford who that yr was named Novice Athlete of the 12 months.
Her title etched in gold in Moscow as an Australian girl didn’t win one other Olympic gold in swimming for 16 years – when Susie O’Neill triumphed the 200m butterfly in Atlanta in 1996.
Inducted into Sport Australia Corridor Of Fame: 1985; Inducted into Worldwide Swimming Corridor Of Fame: 1994
MATT COWDREY OAM MP
Born: December 28, 1988
For the report (Paralympic Video games): Athens (2004): 3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze; Beijing (2008): 5 gold, 3 silver; London (2012): 5 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Commonwealth Video games (3) Melbourne (2006): 2 gold; New Delhi (2010): 1 gold; Glasgow (2014): 1 silver
Inducted into Sport Australia Corridor Of Fame: 2019
SIMPLY TGHE BEST: Matthew Cordrey. Picture Courtesy: Swimming Australia
Born with a congenital amputation of his decrease arm, Matthew Cowdrey clinched his first Paralympic gold medal as a 15-year-old on the Athens 2004 Paralympic Video games which launched his decade-long domination within the pool.
Rising into some of the influential athletes throughout the Australian Paralympic motion by the point he retired.
Along with his 23 Paralympic medals (13 gold, seven silver, three bronze), he received 21 medals at three World Championships (16 gold, three silver, two bronze), and broke dozens of world information – his first at simply 13.
Throughout Matthew’s prolific eleven-year para-swimming profession, his large expertise noticed him grow to be an influential athlete who performed an instrumental function in elevating consciousness of the Paralympic motion inside Australia.
His power within the 100m freestyle and 200m particular person medley occasions earned him 57 worldwide medals together with 23 world championship and three Commonwealth Video games gold medals.
By his retirement on the age of 26-years-old, Cowdrey had develop into probably the most embellished Australian Paralympian in historical past, with a complete of 23 Paralympic medals together with 13 gold throughout three Paralympic Video games.
He left para-swimming holding 5 world information, 5 Paralympic information and 9 short-course world information.
Matthew retired in 2015 at simply 26 years outdated, however even at such a younger age, stood as probably the most prolific Australian Paralympian in historical past, having received a complete of 23 Paralympic medals together with 13 gold.
Matt was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (2005), Australian Paralympian of the 12 months (2008) and Younger South Australian of the 12 months (2009).
He additionally established a notable profession because the London 2012 Paralympic Video games, the place he eclipsed Paralympic runner Tim Sullivan’s report of 10 gold medals. Immediately, Cowdrey is a Member of Parliament for Colton, SA.
