|
|
|
Present
Heroes:
 Year
7 children at Rochedale State School have been learning how to write biographies. Here's
some biographies from Year 7B about Present Australian
Olympians and those hopeful of becoming medal winners at
the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
|
 Samantha
Riley (Swimming)
Born: 13 November 1973.
Even though Samantha Riley hasn't made it to
this year's Olympics, she's still one of our present
heroes. At 27 years of age and trying for her 3rd
Olympics, Sam spent 7 days in hospital with
a kidney infection prior to the selection trials. Sam has had a string of problems
before big events - testing positive to a banned
substance, (an Aspro taken for a headache) just
before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a broken toe
before the Pan Pacs, and tonsillitis before the 1998
Perth World Championships. Samantha Riley is one of
the world's best known Breastroke champions, with
one silver and two bronze medals at Olympics, two world
titles and a world record in that stroke.
Still a hero
in our books!!
|
 Susie
O'Neill (Swimming)
26 years old, Susie O'Neill has 35 Australian Championships to her
name, breaking Sir Frank Beaurepaire's long standing record. Susie O'Neill is
the greatest title winner at a Commonwealth Games, and won her first
Australian title 11 years ago. She also smashed the longest standing world
record in the history of swimming, the 200m butterfly, her specialty stroke, earning
herself the title of Madam Butterfly. Watch for more great things form Susie
at the Olympics in September!!
|
 Leisel
Jones (Swimming)
At 14 years old, Leisel Jones is the youngest
swimmer in 24 years to be chosen for the Olympics
Games. Leisel, from Redcliffe in Brisbane blitzed
the 100m Breastroke final at the Olympic trials on 15
May. Photos
© Courier Mail |
 Tarnee
White (Swimming)
18 years old. Training partner to Leisel Jones and also from Redcliffe,
finished second in the 100m Breastroke final to also qualify for the Olympics,
ending Samantha Riley's
chances of contesting that event at the Olympics. |
 Elli
Overton (Swimming)
Trying for her third Olympics, Elli led from
start to finish to win the 200m medley at the Olympic
trials and earn her place in the team. Elli has
represented Australia in swimming for 10 years. |
 Petria
Thomas (Swimming)
Butterfly swimmer , close friend and rival of
Susie O'Neill, Petria actually led the 200m
butterfly race in which Susie O'Neill broke the
world record at the Olympic Trials to record the
fourth fastest time in history and 2 seconds
inside her career best. |
 Hayley
Lewis
(Swimming)
At only 15, Hayley Lewis won five Commonwealth gold
medals in Auckland in 1990 - the highest number of gold medals ever won at
the Commonwealth Games, and went on to win silver
and bronze at the Barcelona Olympics. Four years
ago, after a disappointing result at the Atlanta
Olympics, Hayley retired.
At 26, Hayley Lewis has made an amazing
come-back after the birth of her son, Jacob,
eighteen months ago. With a great win in the 800m
final at the Olympic trials, Hayley
will be going to the Olympics this year to contest
the 800m freestyle.
Well done Hayley!!
|
Lori
Munz
(Swimming)
Lori Munz was born on 7/2/79, in
Wollongong, NSW and she lives in Falls Creek, NSW.
Badly injured in an accident, Lori Munz, a
Commonwealth gold medallist from Falls Creek, has made an amazing recovery to compete in the Olympic
trials. The 21 year old swimmer from Nowra in New
South Wales, shattered one kneecap and cracked
another only eight weeks ago in a car accident.
Lori has two Gold medals from Commonwealth Games
and sadly missed her chance for the 4X100 metres
relay with eighth place in the 100 metre final.
Lori said," "I know in the past 10 weeks I've done everything I
possibly could and in that race I did everything I
possibly could as well," she said. "This is just how it was meant to be."
However, just to make the final after that makes
Lori a hero in our books!! |
 lan
Thorpe
(Swimming)
Ian
Thorpe was born on 13 October, 1982. He
lives in Sydney and goes to East Hills Boys
Technology High School, although with his swimming
commitments he know does most of his work through
correspondents. At a young age Thorpe shows
massive potential as a cricketer and this is what
his father thought Ian would grow up to be.
Instead he took to the pool. With his huge size
16, flipper like feet he was a 'Thorpedo' as he is
known. Thorpe
made his first major impact on the sport of
swimming when, in March 1997, at just 14 and 5
months, he was selected for the Australian
swimming team to swim at the Pan Pacific's in
Fukuoka, Japan. He cut six seconds off his
personal best time in the 400 metre event,
swimming a time of 3 minutes 53.44 seconds.
At the Pan
Pacifics he came second to team mate and fellow
teenager Grant Hackett, cutting 4 seconds off his
previous best time. He also swam his best times in
the 200 metre freestyle and the 200 metre
butterfly. At
the recent Olympic selection trials, Ian Thorpe
blew away all competition to smash three world
records in three days, in his full body suit.
by Jordan 7B |
 Grant
Hackett
(Swimming)
Twenty years old and Kieran Perkins'
main competition for the 1500 metre race. Grant
has been winning in this event consistently in
recent times and will be trying to take the gold
from Kieran at the Olympics. He led Perkins
all the way in the Olympic selection trials. At the Pan
Pacific's, in August 1997, in taking out the 1,500
metre event, Hackett clocked a time of 15 minutes
01.46 seconds. Also at these Pan Pacific's he came
first in the 400 metre freestyle with a time of 3
minutes 47.27 seconds. A time that would have
earned him a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics.
At the trials,
in October 1997, Hackett and then 14 year old Ian
Thorpe, managed to knock out Kieren Perkins and
Daniel Kowalski's of the 400 metre event. In the 1
500 metres, Hackett managed to knock out Perkins
in the qualifying for the event, clocking a time
of 15 minutes and 13.25 seconds
while suffering the effects of the
flu.
The Olympics should
be a great contest between Perkins and Hackett for
the 1500metre freestyle gold medal.
by Jordan 7B
|
 Kieran
Perkins
(Swimming)
Kieren Perkins was born on 14/8/73, Brisbane Qld.
He lives in Brisbane as do many of our top swimmers
and his interests are boating, movies and motor
cycling. Off to his third Olympics, Kieran Perkins
qualified at the Olympic Trials in his specialty
event, the 1500m freestyle. Kieran has won gold in
this event at the past two Olympics and will be
trying for a hat trick in Sydney.
Good luck
Kieran!! |
 Michael
Klim
(Swimming)
Klim and his family migrated to Australia in 1989. He now lives at the
Australian Institute of Sport. He was named Telstra
Australian Swimmer of the Year in 1998. At the Australian Olympic Selection Trials in May, Klim won the 100m freestyle and came second in the 100m butterfly
and 200m freestyle. He will be one of the busiest swimmers at the Olympics come September, qualifying for an individual
swim in those events as well as all three relays.
|
 Geoff
Heugill
(Swimming)
Geoff
Heugill was born on 4/3/79, Gove, NT. He now lives
in Scarborough, Qld. His interests are surfing and
having fun. Geoff played a vital part in the butterfly
leg of the World Record-breaking 4 x 100m
medley relay and clinched silver in the 100m
butterfly in Commonwealth Record time.
He went into the World Swimming
Championships in January 1998 ranked number
four in the world in the 100m butterfly and
finished with bronze, setting a personal best.
At the
Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur
in September Geoff excelled, winning gold in
the 100m butterfly and 4 x 100m Medley Relay,
defeating the world record holder Michael Klim
in former event.
In August 1999 Geoff continued his
enthralling dual with Michael Klim at the Pan
Pacific Championships in Sydney, this time
finishing with a silver. At the
Olympics Trials, Heugill also won a Silver Medal
in the Men's 100m Butterfly - Final with a
time of 52.51 sec. At such a young age, Geoff promises to be
one of Australia’s brightest hopes at the
Sydney 2000 Olympics.
by Jordan 7B |
 Cathy
Freeman
(Athletics)
Cathy
Freeman is regarded as one of the most popular
Australian athletes with her toothy smile and
honest, forthright manner. She won Commonwealth Games Gold at 16 years of age in
the 4 x 100m relay team. In 1990 she was awarded
the title of Young Australian of the Year, and
Aboriginal Athlete of the Year in 1991. Freeman
became the first Aboriginal track and field
athlete to represent Australia when she went to
the '92 Olympic Games in Barcelona. She became one of Australia's best known g the Silver
medal behind Marie Jose Perec, her great rival. She finally achieved
her dream of becoming the best in the world when
she won the 400 metres at the World Championships
in Athens, becoming the first Australian female
athlete to win Gold at the event. Cathy was
rewarded with the world number one ranking for the
400m in 1997 and was voted the fourth best female
athlete in the world for that year. Throughout
1998, her campaigns were interrupted by injury but
she recovered to win her second World Championship
400m in September 1999. She is now focusing on
winning Gold at the Sydney Olympics.
by Jordan 7B |
Sarah-Jane
Darcy
(Swimming)
At 23 years old, Sarah-Jane has made an
amazing comeback to win selection to the 2000
Olympics swimming team. As a junior swimmer at 16,
Sarah-Jane along with club mate, Michael Klim were
chosen for Australian Institute of Sports scholarships
in Canberra. In her chosen distance of 400metres
freestyle, she performed well climbing to a
ranking of 15 in the world. At 17, she caught a
bad infection which made her lose weight and this
was the start of a bad period of depression and
anorexia which saw her performance drop and
finally the loss of her scholarship. Back at home,
Sarah-Jane has worked hard to overcome the
anorexia and depression to win her place for this
year's Olympics and as one of Australia's heroes!!
Well done!! |
 Nova
Peris-Kneebone
(Athletics)
Nova Peris-Kneebone was born on 25/2/71and
lives in the Northern Territory with her daughter. Nova has been
chosen to be the first person to carry the Olympic
Torch when it reaches Australian soil. After
winning a gold in the Women's Hockey Team in the
Atlanta Olympics, she changed to athletics and won
the Young Australian of the Year award in 1997. At
the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games (1998) Nova
won a gold medal in the 200 Metres Sprint
and is one of the few athletes to have gained gold in both an Individual and Team sport/event. |
Danielle
Leray (Gymnastics)
Danielle Leray is a 17-year-old Australian
rhythmic gymnast who has been very successful with
career highlights including representing Australia
at the 1997 World Championships and 1998
Commonwealth Games. Danielle was born on 6th
November 1982, in Sydney. She lives at home with
both her parents and is the eldest of three
children. Starting
gymnastics at the age of 5, she began for
enjoyment in the recreational class at Korabell.
Christine Hart and Lisa Honey were her first
coaches. Danielle’s best performance in National
Competition was 4th overall in the 1998
Senior Australian Championships. Danielle has also
competed in thirteen International Rhythmic events
where her best moment was representing Australia
at the 1997 World Championships. In these
championships, Danielle scored a personal best for
her exceptional ribbon routine. Danielle
likes tennis, photography, swimming and surfing.
She is in year 10 at Meriden School, Strathfield.
Hopefully Danielle
will be going to the Sydney Olympic Games in
September and make Australia proud.
By Ashleigh,
Year 7B |
Jackie Gallagher
(Triathlon)
Jackie Gallagher was born on the 10th November 1967.
Her height is 170 cm and her weight is 56 kg. Jackie's sponsors are New Balance, Kestrel, Power bar, Bolle, Giro, St
George Bank and G3 Communications.
Her first Triathlon was in 1991 and her current World Ranking is 3rd.
Jackie Gallagher's best National Performances are Australian Triathlon
Championship in1999 and came1st, and the Australian Sprint Triathlon
Championship in 1999 and came Ist. Jackie's best International Performances are the ITU World Triathlon
Championship in 1996 and she came1st. The ITU World Triathlon Championships
in1999 and came 2nd, the same in1997, 1995. Also the ITU World Duathlon Championship in1996, 1999 she came1st.
Her St George 2000 Triathlon Australia Series Results are 3rd in The
Capital Triathlon in Canberra on 12 March 2000. And she came 3rd in the
Australian Triathlon Championships, which was held at Mooloolaba on the 26
March 2000. Jackie's recent World Cup Results: In 1999 ITU Triathlon World Cup she came 1st in Cancun, Mexico and she
came 1st in Corner Brook, Canada. Jackie results in the1998 ITU Triathlon
World Cup are, 1st Sydney, Australia and Zurich, Austria.
By Jaclyn G, Year 7B |
Emma
George (Pole Vault)
Emma George was born on the 1 November 1974 in
Beechworth, Victoria. Emma is 172cm and weighs
62kg. Before she became a pole vaulter in 1994,
she was a long jumper and a sprinter. She won the
Australian Title in 1995. Emma George is a
Commonwealth Gold medallist. Her previous coach
was Mark Stewart and Russian Coach, Alex Parnov,
now coaches her. She also trains with Dmitriy
Markov. She has broken her own World Record twelve
times, her Commonwealth Record five times and is
also the Australian Title holder. She is ranked
No.1 and her P.B. is 4.6m.
By Year 7B |
 Michael
Diamond (Shooting)
Michael Diamond, from Goulburn, NSW shot a perfect 25 targets from 25 shots
in the men's trap shooting competition to win the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Diamond was a child prodigy, winning competitions against adults almost from the time he started shooting as an eight-year-old. He also won the 1998 World Championships for double trap and the team double trap and gold in the trap event at the World cup in 1998. Respected as one of the greatest shotgun shooters in the world, Michael Diamond will be a strong contender for a medal at the 2000 Games. |
Bree
Robertson (Gymnastics)
Bree Robertson was born on 6th July in 1982 and started gymnastics in
March 1994.
She lives in Gosford, New South Wales and is 164.6 cm tall.
Her goal in life is the Sydney 2000 Olympics and she weights 44kg.
Her first club was Gosford Gymnastics and her first coach was Andrea
Ryff. Her current coach is Delia Halmu and her choreographers are Delia Halmu and
Lucy Dimatrova. She started the HP program in January 1995, when she was 13 years old.
Her favorite apparatus is the ball.
Her best performance in the National Competition was the 1996 junior Elite
National Championships. She came 4th and she was only 14.
Her best performance in the International Competition was the 1998
Commonwealth Games Test Event. She was a silver medallist.
Bree has been on the National Squad for four years.
She was in the National Championships, the 1998 Senior AA and came 6th, 1997
Senior AA and came 9th, 1996 Junior AA and came 4th, 1995 Sub Junior AA and
came 10th. Her awards are endless. Bree Robertson will do very well in the
Olympics this year.
By Jaclyn G, Year 7B |
 Melinda
Gainsford-Taylor
(Athletics)
Melinda Gainsford-Taylor started running
as a six year old in Little Athletics in the
country town of Trangie in NSW. Coach Jackie
Byrnes noticed the natural talent of Melinda Gainsford-Taylor
at the Little Athletics meeting and
started coaching her by letter at first and
then when she was fourteen, Melinda moved to Sydney
to be closer to her coach. Hamstring strain forced her out of the '93 World Championships but she
broke Denise Boyd's National 200m record in Hobart. After running an Australian 100m record prior to the Commonwealth Games she finished fourth in the 100m final and third behind
Cathy Freeman in the 200m. In 1995 she was undefeated in 12 races, including two wins over Freeman over 200m. She won the sprint double at the Nationals and then went to Barcelona where she won the World Indoor 200m title.
She returned from Spain to win the Optus Grand Prix Final and the title as the Optus Grand Prix Female Athlete of the Year.
Melinda has gone on record as being Australia's
fastest woman sprinter. She was injured during the
Atlanta Olympic Games still making the 200m semi final, and is
in training the Sydney Olympics. |
|
|
|
