Swimming WA Hall of Legends
As you may already know, the Hall of Legends is a rarefied space, designed and set aside to accommodate the rarest of tenants – the best of the best in our sport. Our newest inductees deserve no less than being granted legend status – not just for excelling in the world of Olympics, FINA World Championships, and Paralympics, but for elevating the profile of our sport.
Elevation from the Hall of Fame into the Hall of Legends is an acknowledgement of attainment of the extraordinary feats of an individual at an international level that has set them above their peers and captured the attention of the swimming world through attainment of an individual medal at the Olympic or Paralympic Games or for Open Water Swimmers, at an International standard meet.
Hall of Legends Inductee – Eamon Sullivan
Former Swimmer from UWA West Coast Swimming Club
A 3-time Olympic medallist, a world champion and a world record holder, few athletes climbed higher than Sullivan. Making his Olympic debut in 2004 at just 19 years old, Sullivan was a part of a 6 strong Western Australian team. From there Sullivan’s career took off in leaps and bounds reaching the international podium 2 years later in his pet event, the 100m Freestyle. 2008 was the year of Eamon, coming off a stint at altitude training, Sullivan blasted the world record in the 50m Freestyle. The form continued to the Beijing Olympics where he broke the world record numerous times in the 100m Freestyle, ultimately walking away with the silver medal to go along with his silver in the 50m Freestyle and a bronze in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay. Despite ongoing injuries, Sullivan under the careful guidance of coach Grant Stoelwinder has always been an incredible ambassador for the sport and continues to advocate as a proud alumni & leader within the community.
Hall of Legends Inductee – Shelley Taylor-Smith
Former Swimmer from Perth City Swimming Club
The queen of Open Water Swimming, Shelley Taylor-Smith is commonly known as one of the greatest Open Water Swimmers of all time. A victim of scoliosis, her career happened almost by chance as her coach in Arkansas suggested she take up distance swimming to overcome the pain of tumble turning. From there the world was Shelley’s oyster, breaking the 4-mile world record in 1983. The first of many worlds records Shelley was set to break including the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a race she won 5 times. Arguably the peak of Shelley’s career came a stone's throw from where we meet tonight, claiming gold in the 1991 25km World Championships.
Since retirement, Shelley has been a larger-than-life character for both swimming and the state of Western Australia. Shelley has been widely recognised by the community and is acknowledged everywhere from the WAIS hall of fame through to a swan river ferry carrying her name.
In 2021, the Open Water Swimmer of the Year was fittingly renamed the Shelley Taylor-Smith medal, an honour recognising the fantastic work Shelley has done for the OWS community as an athlete, coach and ambassador. Shelley continues her legacy officially entering the Swimming WA Hall of Legends.
Hall of Legends Inductee – Priya Cooper
Former Swimmer from Swan Hills Swimming Club
Without question, one of the most deserving recipients of Legend status, Priya Cooper is a nine-time Paralympic champion and one of the most incredible humans to call Western Australia home. Representing Australia at 1992, 1996 & 2000 Paralympic Games, Priya has had to battle cerebral palsy to become our most decorated athlete. A leader from day one, as a Swan Hills swimmer, Priya was always assisting others along her journey and was credited as the Australian co-captain numerous times. In addition to her nine paralympic golds, Priya claimed three silver and four bronze paralympic medals as well as eight gold, and two silver world championships medals, amassing an incredible 17 international golds. Upon retirement, Priya has continued to shine as a leader within the community continuing the promote the paralympic movement. Today, Priya is the chair of the Western Australian Institute of Sport, a testament to her continuous pursuit of excellence.
Swimming WA Hall of Fame
The Swimming WA Hall of Fame comprises of fifty-nine (59) of the most prominent names in Western Australian swimming. Now, this illustrious group of Swimming WA’s most respected and celebrated champions will become sixty-one (61). Induction into the Hall of Fame is a public acknowledgement of attainment of an individual representing Australia at the highest international level that has set them above their peers and made an outstanding contribution to swimming in Western Australia.
Hall of Fame Inductee – Blair Evans
Former Swimmer from UWA West Coast Swimming Club
Blair Evans is a dual Olympian, Commonwealth Games Medallist and a proud Western Australian. Evans made an impressionable entrance to the international scene at the 2009 FINA World Championships after dominating the 800m Freestyle at the Australian trials. Since 2009, Blair has been an integral part of the Australian team representing Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games where she won bronze in the 400m Individual Medley. In addition to her swimming accolades, Blair has been an incredible ambassador for the sport, supporting the community from learn to swim through to being an active mentor for our rising stars.
Hall of Fame Inductee – Sally Hunter
Former Swimmer from Central Aquatic Club
Sally Hunter, a proud product of the Central Aquatic Club and DeLacy Swim School. Representing Australia from 2007 to 2014, few swimmers offered the versatility of Sally, swimming in sprint freestyle early in her career through to her pet event the 200m Breaststroke. An AIS scholarship recipient, Hunter trained around Australia with some of the best coaches before ending her career in Adelaide with Peter Bishop and the Marion Swimming Club.
