Swimming Australia would like to extend its congratulations to the 18 swimmers who have been inducted into the Path of Champions at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight, Tuesday October 21.
Olympic gold medallist, World Champion and world record holder Cate Campbell along with her world record breaking 4x100m freestyle relay teammates from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games; sister Bronte Campbell, Melanie Wright (nee Schlanger), and Emma McKeon as well as Paralympic gold medallist, IPC World Champion and world record Holder Matthew Cowdrey and Paralympic gold medallist and world record holder Jacqui Freney – are just some of the swimmers that will now feature on the Path of Champions in Sydney.
The Path of Champions recognises the achievements of Australia’s sporting heroes and was initiated during the construction of the Aquatic Centre and Athletic Centre in Sydney Olympic Park (SOPAC), Homebush.
The Aquatic Path of Champions was officially opened in 1995 and honours 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.
Tonight’s induction honoured athletes that had achieved this status from the 2009 Rome World Championships, 2011 Shanghai World Championships, 2012 London Olympic Games, 2013 Barcelona World Championships and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
After winning a gold medal as part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team at the Olympics in London, being crowned world champion in the 100m freestyle in Barcelona 2013 and then setting a new world record in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games this year, Cate Campbell said joining past legends on the Path of Champions was a dream come true.
“Ever since I first entered the Sydney Aquatic Centre, as a 13 year old, I have always dreamed of having my own plaque on the Path of Champions. It is one of the highest honours in our sport and I feel very humbled to be joining some of the legends on the wall,” Campbell said.
World Championship gold medallist in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay from Shanghai in 2011 and gold medallist in the same event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships this year, Matthew Abood grew up racing at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and said seeing the plaques of past champions inspired him.
“I can remember the first time I walked into the Aquatic Centre at Homebush for the New South Wales state High School championships and I remember seeing all those plaques and names and all their achievements.
I was so amazed by what our country had achieved in the pool, since then with each trip to the pool and in more recent years training at SOPAC it has been an inspiration to someday hopefully be a part of those achievements on the walls.
To be inducted this week is a massive honour and somewhat surreal and to be able to now walk to training and see my name on the wall among our country’s finest swimmers, it makes me very proud,” Abood said.
Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson said it was tremendous to see so many swimmers recognised for their outstanding contribution to the sport.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to all of the swimmers inducted into the Path of Champions at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre today. It is an amazing achievement to have 18 swimmers eligible for induction and this speaks of the depth of talent on our team.
These athletes have each achieved outstanding results and many will continue to achieve and surpass their previous achievements as they further develop their careers representing Australia.
Importantly, I am sure that these names added to the Path of Champions will provide a constant source of inspiration for the next generation, some of whom will pass through the Pathway on their way into the Aquatic Centre regularly for training,” Anderson said.
A plaque on the Path of Champions is one of the highest honours in the sport of swimming and Swimming Australia would like to congratulate the following swimmers on their induction tonight:
Matthew Abood, Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell, Alicia Coutts, Matthew Cowdrey, Marieke D’Cruz (nee Guehrer), Brittany Elmslie, Jacqui Freney, Melissa Gorman, Emma McKeon, James Magnussen, Siobhan Paton, Brenton Rickard, Jessicah Schipper, Melanie Wright (nee Schlanger), Christian Sprenger, Eamon Sullivan, Matthew Targett.
For a full list of inductees and for more information on the Path of Champions go to: http://www.aquaticcentre.com.au/attractions/path_of_champions
The above is a press release submitted by Swimming Australia staff.
I am surprised there’s no Leisel Jones. I suppose she’s not someone the next generation of swimmers will inherently know though.