Newest WA Hall of Champions Inductee, William Ashley Kirby OAM, was born in Perth in 1975. The former City of Perth swimmer won national champion in butterfly when he was 17-years-old and went on to represent Australia, for the first time, at the 1993 Pan Pacific Championships. In 1996, Bill missed out on the selection for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, as he became very ill with glandular fever.
After taking six-months break in Margaret River, Bill restored his health and found his way back into the national team at the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in 1997. He began his international swimming circuit at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998, finishing with a silver medal in the 200m butterfly.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he won gold and a World Record in the 4x200m freestyle relay, alongside Todd Pearson, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe. During his career, Bill was involved in six long and short course World Records. His final international competition was in Japan at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships, where Michael Klim, Grant Hackett, Ian Thorpe and himself raced the 4x200m freestyle relay and lowered the World Record to 7:04.66 minutes. This World Record held for almost six years.
Now former Head Coach at Westside Christ Church Aquatic, Bill continues to serve the club as President. His business Kirby Swim has helped kids learn how to swim across WA.
Congratulations Bill on an amazing swimming career and thank you for spreading your passion for swimming within the WA community.
