PATH OF CHAMPIONS

The Path of Champions recognises Australia's contribution to sporting excellence by honouring those athletes who attain the status of Olympic Champion, World Champion or World Record Holder in the FINA events of Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming.

The Path currently consists of 124 plaques of Australian athletes and was installed for the Official Opening of the Centre in January 1995.

To qualify for inclusion the athlete must be an Olympic Champion (gold medallist), a World Champion, or a World Record Holder in FINA recognised events. Short course events are not included.

LEGENDS
Andrew Charlton	Lorraine Crapp	Sarah Durack
Richmond Eve (diving)	Dawn Fraser	Shane Gould
John Konrads	Fred Lane	Murray Rose

OLYMPIC PARK CHAMPIONS, WORLD CHAMPIONS, WORLD RECORD HOLDERS AND WORLDS BEST
Allan Wood	Frank O'Neill	John Sieben	Neville Hayes
Alva Colquhoun	Gail Neall	Jon M Henricks	Pamela Sergeant
Andrew Kerr(Water Polo)	Gary Chapman	Judy Joy Davies	Peter Doak
Anthony Strahan	Geoffrey Huegill	Karen Moras	Peter Evans
Ashley Callus	Geoffrey Shipton	Kathryn Wainwright	Peter Phelps
Australian Open Water Swimming Team	Gergaynia Beckett	Kevin Berry	Peter Reynolds
Australian Women's Water Polo Team	Giaan Rooney	Kevin O'Halloran	Petria Thomas
Barbara Jackson	Graham Dunn	Kieren Perkins	Philomena Mealing
Bernard Kieran	Graham White	Leisel Jones	Rebecca Brown
Beverley Whitfield	Graham Windeatt	Leslie Boardman	Regan Harrison
Bradford Cooper	Grahame Hamilton	Linda McGill	Rex Aubrey
Brian Wilkinson	Grant Hackett	Linley Frame	Robert Windle
Cecil Healy	Gregory Rogers	Lynette Bell	Robin Thorn
Charles Turner(Water Polo)	Harold Hardwick	LynetteMcClements	Rosemary Lassig
Christopher Fydler	Hayley Lewis	Margaret Gibson	Ruth Everus
Clare Dennis	Ian O'Brien	Marguerite Ruygrok	Samantha Riley
Daniel Kowalski	Ian Thorpe	Marilyn Wilson	Sandra Morgan
David Dickson	Ilsa Konrads	Mark Kerry	Sarah Ryan
David Thiele	Janice Andrew	Mark Tonelli	Shelley Taylor-Smith(Open Water)
Deborah Watson	Jennifer Turrall	Matthew Dunn	Stephen Holland
Doris Welch	John B. Marshall	Matthew Welsh	Susie O'Neill
Duncan Armstrong	John Bennett	Melissa Cunningham(Open Water)	Terry Gathercole
Dyana Calub	John Devitt	Michael Klim	Todd Pearson
Edna Davey	John Griffith Davies	Michael Wenden	Tracey Wickham
Faith Leech	John Ryan	Michelle Ford	Warwick Webster
Frank Beaurepaire	John Monckton	Neil Brooks	William Devenish
			William Kirby

LATEST INDUCTION OF WORLD CHAMPION 
Based on achievements in the following events:
1998 World Championships in Perth
1998 Commonwealth Games
1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
2000 Olympic Selection Trials
2000 Olympic Games
2001 World Championships

Kieren Perkins
Born: 1973, Brisbane 
Club: Commercial QLD
The first Australian to win the 1500m freestyle at two Olympics, Kieren Perkins, OAM, capped an illustrious career earning a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle in his third Olympics at Sydney 2000.

Olympic Champion 1500m Freestyle 1992 Barcelona
   1500m Freestyle 1996 Atlanta
World Champion  400m Freestyle 1994 Rome
   1500m Freestyle 1994 Rome
World Record Holder 800m Freestyle 7:47.85, Edmonton, 25/8/91

800m Freestyle 7:46.60, Blacktown, 16/2/92
   400m Freestyle 3:46.47, Canberra, 3/4/92
   1500m Freestyle 14:48.40, Canberra, 5/4/92
   1500m Freestyle 14:43.48, Barcelona, 31/7/92
   800m Freestyle 7:46.00, Victoria BC, 24/8/94
   1500m Freestyle 14:41.66, Victoria BC, 24/8/94
   400m Freestyle 3:43.80, Rome, 9/9/94

Susan O'Neill
Born: 1973, Mackay 
Club: Commercial QLD
Susie O'Neill, OAM, ended her career in fine style winning the 200m freestyle at the 2000 Olympics where she was also a silver medallist in the 200m butterfly, the medley and 4 x 200m freestyle relays. O'Neill holds 35 national titles, overtaking the record number held by Sir Frank Beaurepaire since 1924.  Elected in 2000, O’Neill is an athlete member of the international Olympic committee.

Olympic Champion 200m Butterfly 1996 Atlanta
    200m Freestyle 2000 Sydney
World Champion  200m Butterfly 1998 Perth
World Record Holder 200m Butterfly 2:05.81, Sydney Olympic Park, 17/5/00

Michael Klim
Born: 1977, Gdynina, Poland 
Club: Melbourne Vicentre
Olympic relay champion and 100m butterfly silver medallist, Michael Klim, OAM, achieved a total of six gold medals at the 1998 and 2001 world championships.  In 1998 he was the first Australian to be awarded the FINA Politika trophy.

Olympic Champion 4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
World Champion  200m Freestyle 1998 Perth
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 1998 Perth
    100m Butterfly 1998 Perth
    4 x 100mMedley Relay 1998 Perth
    4 x 100mFreestyle relay 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 200mFreestyke Relay 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 100m Butterfly 0:52.15, Brisbane, 9/10/97
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:11.86, Kuala Lumpur, 13/9/98
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:08.79, Sydney Olympic Park, 25/8/99
    100m Butterfly 0:52.03, Canberra, 10/12/99
    100m Butterfly 0:51.81, Canberra, 12/12/99
    100m Freestyle 0:48.18, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00
    4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 3:13.67, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:07.05, Sydney Olympic Park, 19/9/00
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:04.66, Fukuoka, 27/7/01

Ian Thorpe
Born: 1982 Milperra, NSW 
Club: Padstow, NSW
Ian Thorpe, OAM, won a record six gold medals at the 2001 World Championships following his three gold medals at the 2000 Olympics.

Olympic Champion 400m Freestyle 2000 Sydney
    4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
World Champion  4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 1998 Perth
    400m Freestyle 1998 Perth
    400m Freestyle 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 100mFreestyle relay 2001 Fukuoka
    800m Freestyle 2001 Fukuoka
    200m Freestyle 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:11.86, Kuala Lumpur, 13/9/98
    400m Freestyle 3:41.83, Sydney Olympic Park, 22/8/99
    200m Freestyle 1:46.34, Sydney Olympic Park, 23/10/99
    200m Freestyle 1:46.00, Sydney Olympic Park, 24/8/99
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:08.79, Sydney Olympic Park, 25/8/99
    400m Freestyle 3:41.33, Sydney Olympic Park, 13/5/00
    200m Freestyle 1:45.69, Sydney Olympic Park, 14/5/00
    200m Freestyle 1:45.51, Sydney Olympic Park, 15/5/00
    400m Freestyle 3:40.59, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00
    4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 3:13.67, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:07.05, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00
    800m Freestyle 7:41.59, Hobart, 26/3/01
    200m Freestyle 1:44.59, Hobart, 27/3/01
    400m Freestyle 3:40.17, Fukuoka, 22/7/01
    800m Freestyle 7:39.16, Fukuoka, 24/7/01
    200m Freestyle 1:44.06, Fukuoka, 25/7/01
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:04.66, Fukuoka, 27/7/01

Grant Hackett
Born: 1980 Southport, QLD 
Club: Miami, QLD
Grant Hackett, OAM, broke the seven year old world record for the 1500m by over 7 seconds at the 2001 world championships, repeating his dominance in this event at the 2000 Olympics.  He was also a member of the successful 4 x 200 m relay teams in 1998 and 2001.

Olympic Champion 1500m Freestyle 2000 Sydney
World Champion  4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 1998 Perth
    1500m Freestyle 1998 Perth
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2001 Fukuoka
    1500m Freestyle 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 200m Freestyle 1:46.67, Brisbane, 23/3/99
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:08.79, Sydney Olympic Park, 25/8/99
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:04.66, Fukuoka, 27/7/01
    1500m Freestyle 14:34.56, Fukuoka, 29/7/01

Daniel Kowalski
Born: 1975 Singapore 
Club: Melbourne Vicentre
Daniel Kowalski, OAM, anchored the 4 x 200m freestyle relay team which won the 1998 World Championship.  In a feat not previously achieved at the same Olympics, Kowalski was a medallist in the 200m, 400m, and 1500m freestyle at the 1996 Olympics.

World Champion  4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 1998 Perth
World Record Holder 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:11.86, Kuala Lumpur, 13/9/98

Matthew Dunn
Born: 1973 Leeton 
Club: Leeton
Matt Dunn swam the third leg in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay that set a world record at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.  A triple Olympian, Dunn was a finalist in the 200m individual medley in 1992 and individual medleys 1996.

World Record Holder 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:11.86, Kuala Lumpur, 13/9/98

Christopher Fydler
Born: 1972 Randwick, NSW 
Club: Tweed Heads, NSW
Swimming second in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay team, triple Olympian Chris Fydler, OAM, ended his career with a golden world record at the Sydney Olympics.  A 1998 World Championship gold medallist in the 4 x 100m medley relay, he also won a silver medal in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay.

Olympic Champion 4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
World Champion  4 x 100mMedley Relay 1998 Perth
World Record Holder 4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 3:13.67, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00

Matthew Welsh 
Born: 1976 Carlton, VIC 
Club: Surrey Park, VIC
Matt Welsh won the 100m backstroke at 2001 World Championships where he was also a member of the successful medley relay team.  A silver medallist in the 4 x 100m medley relay and the 100m backstroke at the 2000 Olympics, he also won a bronze in the 200m backstroke.

World Champion  4 x 100mMedley Relay 1998 Perth
    100m Backstroke 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka

Ashley Callus
Born: 1979 Brisbane 
Club: Iona, QLD
Ashley Callus, OAM, was a member of the 4 x 100m freestyle relay teams that touched out the united states both at the 2001 World Championships and at the 2000 Olympics.  The USA had never been beaten in this Olympic event.

Olympic Champion 4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
World Champion  4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 4 x 100mFreestyle Relay 3:13.67, Sydney Olympic Park, 16/9/00

William Kirby
Born: 1975 Perth 
Club: City of Perth
William Kirby, OAM, was a member of the 4 x 200m freestyle relay teams that won at the 2001 World Championships and the Sydney 2000 Olympics, both in world record times.

Olympic Champion 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
World Champion  4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:08.79, Sydney Olympic Park, 25/8/99
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:07.05, Sydney Olympic Park, 19/9/00
    4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:04.66, Fukuoka, 27/7/01

Todd Pearson
Born: 1977 Geraldton, WA 
Club: Carine, WA
Todd Pearson, OAM, was a member of the 4 x 100m freestyle relay team that narrowly defeated the USA at the 2001 World Championships and the 4 x 200m freestyle relay team that won the event at the 2000 Olympics by a wide margin.

Olympic Champion 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2000 Sydney
World Champion  4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 4 x 200mFreestyle Relay 7:07.05, Sydney Olympic Park,

19/9/00Australian Women's Waterpolo Team
In a dramatic finish Australia scored with only 1.3 seconds remaining to defeat the united states 4 goals to 3 and win the inaugural Olympic Women’s water polo competition.  Six nations competed in a round robin competition in which Australia lost only one match.

Goalkeepers Liz Weekes  Danielle Woodhouse
Field Players Naomi Castle  Bronwyn Mayer
  Jo Fox   Gail Miller
  Bridgette Gusterson (C) Melissa Mills
  Simone Hankin  Debbie Watson
  Yvette Higgins  Taryn Woods
  Kate Hooper

Deborah Watson
Born: 1965 Manly, NSW 
Club: Sydney University
Debbie Watson, OAM, a utility player equally adept in attack and defence, first represented Australia in 1983.  She was a member of Australian teams that won both the inaugural women’s world championships and the women’s Olympic competition as well as two World Cups.  World women’s water polo player in 1993, she captained Australia from 1991 to 1995.

Olympic Champion Women's WaterPolo  2000 Sydney
World Champion  Women's WaterPolo  1986 Madrid

Geoffrey Huegill
Born: 1979 Gove, NT 
Club: Redcliffe Leagues, QLD
Geoff Huegill won the 50m butterfly at the 2001 World Championships, where he was also a member of the successful medley relay team.  An Olympic silver medallist in the medley relay, he earned a bronze medal in the 100m butterly at the Sydney 2000 games.

World Champion  50m Butterfly 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka
World Record Holder 50m Butterfly 0:23.60, Sydney Olympic Park, 15/5/00
    50m Butterfly 0:23.44, fukuoka, 27/7/01

Petria Thomas
Born: 1975 Mullumbimby, NSW 
Club: Mullumbimby, NSW
Petria Thomas won the 100m and 200m butterfly and was a member of the successful medley relay at the 2001 World Championships.  A 2000 Olympic silver medallist in the medley relay and 4x200m freestyle relay, she earned a silver medal in the 200m butterfly at the 1996 Olympics.

World Champion  200m Butterfly 2001 Fukuoka
    100m Butterfly 2001 Fukuoka
    4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka

Regan Harrison
Born: 1978 Brisbane 
Club: Leander, QLD
A 2000 Olympic silver medallist in the medley relay, Regan Harrison swam his fastest 100m in the breaststroke leg for the Australian team that won the medley relay at the 2001 World Championships.
World Champion  4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka

Giaan Rooney
Born: 1982 Brisbane 
Club: Miami, QLD
Gold Medallist in the 200m Freestyle at the 2001 World Championships, Giaan Rooney was also a member of the 4x200m relay team that earned a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

World Champion 200m Freestyle 2001 Kukuoka

Liesel Jones
Born: 1985 Katherine, NT 
Club: Redcliffe Leagues, QLD
Leisel Jones, aged 15, was a member of the team that won the medley relay at the world championships.  An Olympic silver medallist in the medley relay, she was also a silver medallist in the 100m breastsroke at both the World Championships and Sydney 2000 Olympics.

World Champion 4 x 100m Medley Relay 2001 Fukuoka

Dyana Calub
Born: 1975 Bourke, NSW 
Club: Kingscliff
Medley relay Olympic silver medallist Dyana Calub, swam the backstroke leg for the Australian team that won the medley relay at the 2001 World Championships.  This was the first time that an Australian team had won this championship event.

World Champion  4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka

Sarah Ryan
Born: 1977 Adelaide 
Club: Lefevre Portside, SA
A 1996 and 2000 Olympian, Sarah Ryan maintained a narrow lead in the freestyle leg of the medley relay to enable the Australian team to win this event at the 2001 World Championships.

World Champion  4 x 100mMedley Relay 2001 Fukuoka