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Swimming is one of Australia's most popular sports, enjoyed by people of all ages.
Living in a country surrounded by more than 35,000 kilometres of coastline, Australians are encouraged to learn to swim as early as in their first year. While initially the aim of swimming programs is teaching water safety and buoyancy, later programs focus on stroke development and technique.
For many Australians swimming is a major form of fun and recreation. In the summer Australians and tourists flock to the many thousands of beaches along the country's coast to enjoy the waves of the ocean. Others swim in backyard or public pools, or in lakes and dams in inland and rural areas.
Before 1902 it was illegal to swim in the surf in daylight hours, a law based on morality rather than safety with men and women allowed to 'bathe' separately in the early morning or late evening. In 1902 this law was openly defied by a male swimmer who entered the water at Manly Beach at midday. He was arrested but no charges were laid, and subsequently ‘surf bathing’ became a popular past time.
Six Bondi life savers about to race, Bondi, January 1988. Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia
With more swimmers in the surf, the dangers of the ocean became apparent, and in February 1906 the first surf lifesaving club in the world was founded at Bondi Beach.
With more clubs forming at different beaches there was a need for a united front and the New South Wales Surf Bathing Association was founded on 18 October 1907. The name was later changed to the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia, and in 1991 it changed again to Surf Life Saving Australia.
Swimming has always been considered a great form of exercise. Many people swim laps in public pools (once called public baths) to maintain fitness and a healthy lifestyle. While once men and women were segregated in public baths, in modern times men and women swim side-by-side.
Many Australians are members of swimming clubs and many young Australians take part in school swimming carnivals, through which a few emerge as elite swimmers who compete at a national and international level.
Swimming is one of the eight founding sports of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Some swimmers live and train at the AIS while others, from Australia and overseas, visit for specialised training and advice. The AIS residential program is devoted to swimming excellence. The Institute provides a unique opportunity for elite and potentially elite athletes to follow a sporting and academic or working career.
Swimming has consistently been a popular Olympic sport, with Australia regularly featuring in the medal tally. From winning two Gold medals at the 1900 Paris Olympics - the second Olympics - Australia won five gold, nine silver and four bronze medals in the pool at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
All Australians celebrate the success of the nation's swimmers. Many past and present swimmers have become national and international icons of the sport - Ian Thorpe, Murray Rose, and Dawn Fraser are standouts.
Children at a learn-to-swim campaign lesson
in Australia receive advice from Dawn Fraser after a training session.
Image courtesy of the National Library
of Australia
Dawn Fraser is arguably Australia's most famous Olympian. Winning eight medals at the Olympics (four gold and four silver) and six gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, she also set 27 individual world records.
Murray Rose is another Australian swimming legend, winning three gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and setting 15 world records throughout his career.
Ian Thorpe is the twenty-first century's swimming icon and is one of the most recognised sportspeople of the world. At 21 years of age Thorpe was the world record holder for the 200 metres, 400 metres, and 800 metres freestyle. As of winter 2003, he had broken 22 world records and won three Olympic Gold medals. He has also won several other awards, including the 2002 American International Athlete Trophy - 'Worlds Most Outstanding Athlete'.
The Australian national swimming team is called the Telstra Dolphins. Its members take part in national and international meets throughout the year and train towards major events such the World Titles, Pan Pacific Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
Swimming is also a popular topic of films and books in Australia. Many of Australia's champion swimmers have had books written about their lives and achievements, and the 2003 movie Swimming Upstream, starring Academy Award winning actor Geoffrey Rush alongside Judy Davis and Jesse Spencer, tells the story of former backstroke swimmer Tony Fingleton, who in the early 1960s dreamt of being the next Murray Rose.
Useful links
- Aussi Masters Swimming
- Australian Sports Commission
- Australian Swimming
- NSW Swimming
- Northern Territory Swimming
- Queensland Swimming
- Surf Lifesaving Australia
- AIS Swimming
- Swimming Australia
- Swimming Tasmania
- Swimming Victoria
- The Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association
- Western Australian Swimming Association
- Learning to swim - AUSTSWIM the Australian Council for the Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety
- Swim Australia
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Last updated: 12th January 2007
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