Swimming Australia announced three new recipients of its Life Membership–the governing body’s highest individual honor–in late October.
Four-time Australian Olympic coach Michael Bohl OAM and three-time Olympians and accomplished administrators Matthew Dunn OAM and Nicole Livingstone OAM have received the SA Life Membership to celebrate their exceptional service to the sport.
Swimming Australia CEO Eugénie Buckley congratulated the trio and recognized their influence in the sport.
Buckley said in a public statement, “Michael, Nicole, and Matt represent the very best of Australian swimming, not only by virtue of their respective success both in and out of the pool but also their ongoing contributions to the growth and advancement of our sport.”
“All three epitomize the values we hold dear in our broader swimming community and our sport is undoubtedly better for their involvement, so it is only fitting they each be bestowed our highest honor,” said Buckley.
Often considered the modern-day super coach, Bohl has mentored some of the most successful Australian swimmers. At the 2008 Beijing Games, he coached Stephanie Rice to three gold medals in a single Olympics. Following his Olympic debut, Bohl guided Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon, to consecutive Olympic appearances. Bohl is the head coach of the Griffith University Swim Club at Gold Coast, where four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm, Tokyo 2020 triple gold medallist Kaylee McKeown, 2016 Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Brendon Smith, and pop singer-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson train.
Bohl accepted his award and said, “Swimming has been a major part of my life for the past 55 years, and I have had the good fortune of being involved with some outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators, and volunteers who have all played an important role in shaping me into the coach I am today.”
Dunn, who competed at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games, broke the short course meter 400 IM and 800 free relay world records multiple times before retiring in 2001. After his athletic career, Dunn remained committed to the sport by undertaking various roles, such as Director of the Swimming Australia Board, member of the FINA Athletes’ Commission and WADA Athlete Committee, President of the Oceania Swimming Association, and his current leadership position as Second Vice President of FINA.
“Swimming has given me so much as an athlete,” Dunn said. “[It] was how I met my beautiful wife and is now the sport my three boys enjoy so much. It’s been a privilege to have had the opportunity to give back to aquatics at multiple levels over the last 15 years, and I thank Swimming Australia for this award.”
As a swimmer, Livingstone earned a silver medal and two bronzes from her three Olympic appearances in ‘88, ‘92, and ‘96. In 1992, she broke an SCM world record in the 200 back. Soon after her third Games, Livingstone retired and pursued a media career. In 2021 and 2022, she worked for Amazon Prime Video to commentate for the Australian Swimming Championships.
Besides her work as a broadcaster, Livingstone has served as a member of the AOC Athlete’s Commission and CEO of the Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club. She has also occupied director roles on boards for Swimming Australia, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Victorian Institute of Sport, and the Australian Sports Drug Agency (now referred to as Sport Integrity Australia).
Last year’s SA Life Membership recipient was five-time Olympic Head Coach, Bill Sweetenham.
