Thorpe Took Home 5 Medals in 2000 from This Pool

Ian "Thorpedo" Thorpe took home five medals in the 2000 Summer Olympics from swimming in the famous Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center pool and after participating in the New South Wales Relay Championships I can attest that it is a very "fast" pool!


On June 21, along with 34 other swimmers from North Sydney Masters, I swam in 5 relay events as part of a relay carnival with all the Master Swim Clubs from across New South Wales:


1. 400 Freestyle (100x4 females - Linda 1:33.69)

2. 100 Freestyle (25x4 mixed male/female, Linda 35:25)

3. 100 Medley Relay (25 of each stroke x4 mixed male/female - I swam breast 40:51)

4. 200 Freestyle (50x4 mixed male/female - I swam the first leg with a time of 40.86)

5. 100 Medley Relay (25 of each stroke x 4 female, I swam breast 41:12)


Note: I'm not sure if all these times are correct as being a relay I don't think they provide splits so I may be reading the Website with the results incorrectly.


This being the very first time I swam where there were time keepers, touchpads, judges and RULES (e.g., not leaving starting block until the swimmer touches, no movement at all once the whistle blows and the official says "swimmers take your mark") I was very nervous!


Now looking back, I realize it was the best way to start "indoor competive" swimming . All the races were relays so it was very team oriented and everyone was very supportive. And everyone had a great attitude about just trying your best and having fun. I had a terrific time!


The North Sydney Masters team took a very respectable 3rd place and of particular note - Gillian achieved a new national record in the 50 freestyle (women 30-34) with 27.86 seconds. And Melissa Beames broke the state record in the 25 backstroke (women 25-29).


Melissa's record breaking 25 backstroke was the first leg of my fifth relay event which means that I had the honor of jumping in the pool to swim 25 breast right after her. And with such a great start our team took first place for the 100 Medley relay for women 120+.


First Place (20 points, 1:11.87)

Team North Sydney
Melissa Beames
Linda Horiuchi (41.12)
Rachel Fox
Ann Austin


Second Place - Team Cook & Phillip (1:13.17)


Third Place - Team Blacktown City (1:19.94)


Thanks to James, a fellow swimmer, for taking some pictures of me competing in my first (of many more I hope) North Sydney Masters swimming events.