The nation of Australia took home a haul of 21 swimming medals at the 2020 Olympic Games, with 9 of those being gold. That was the best performance ever for the Aussies at an Olympic Games, with the green and gold squad finishing second only to the United States in the overall swimming medal table in Tokyo.
Swimmers, coaches and staff relived the incredible achievements this week at the Swimming Australia Awards, hosted on the Gold Coast.
Emma McKeon was recognized as the Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year after the 27-year-old crushed each of her races to snag 7 medals in total. With her 11 overall career Olympic medals, McKeon is now the most decorated Australian Olympian of all time across all sports.
As part of the team which helped McKeon produce such mega results, coach Michael Bohl was honored as Olympic Program Coach of the Year.
In open water, Kareena Lee‘s first-ever Australian Olympic medal in marathon swimming, a bronze in the women’s 10k, rendered her named Open Water Program Swimmer of the Year.
Of the recognition, Swimming Australia CEO, Eugénie Buckley, said, “The legacy of the historic achievements of our Olympic and Paralympic teams in Tokyo will inspire generations of Australians into the pool.
“While our award winners tonight are certainly most deserving, everyone in the room should be proud of the role they played in one of the most successful and significant years our sport has ever experienced.”
2021 Swimming Australia Swimmer of the Year Award winners
Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year – Emma McKeon (Griffith University)
Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year – Will Martin (Nudgee College Swimming)
Open Water Program Swimmer of the Year – Kareena Lee (Noosa)
Olympic Program Coach of the Year – Michael Bohl (Griffith University)
Paralympic Program Coach of the Year – David Proud (Nudgee College Swimming)
Open Water Program Coach of the Year – John Rodgers (Noosa)
Youth Coach of the Year – Dean Boxhall (St Peters Western)
Swimmers’ Swimmer – Ben Popham (Arena Swim Club) and Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson (Central Cairns)
AIS Discovery of the Year – Benjamin Hance (USC Spartans)
Roger Smith Technical Official of the Year – Lori Chaplin (Southern Cross Swimming Club, Queensland)
APV Club of the Year – Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club
Local Legend of the Year – Ian Smith, Treasurer Taree Torpedoes
So many inspiring stories to come out of Tokyo, The team came together as one, and just lifted for each other Amazing to watch!