The Western Australian Swimming Association Inc. (SWA), has resolved to honour the service and the achievements of two of its past champions in Eamon Sullivan and Jennifer Reilly.
In May of each year, the Association holds the Westpac Swimmer of the Year Awards which are a celebration of the Western Australian swimming calendar. There are a number of Awards that have historical significance and honour people such as Sir Frank Beaurepaire, Jack Howson and of course, the most prestigious award of all, the Lyn McClements Medal.
The Honours and Awards Committee has recommended that two of the Awards (that either was not named or the name no longer held relevance to swimming in 2019) be renamed. In response, the Board has bestowed this honour on our two former champions and named these Awards.
The Award for the able-bodied swimmer who is the most consistent performer at the SunSmart State Age Long Course Swimming Championships, aged 14 years for female athletes and 15 years for male athletes, will now be named the Jennifer Reilly Trophy. As a dual Olympian, Jennifer has worked tirelessly for the sport of swimming including serving on the SWA Board. Originally from Victoria Park Swimming Club, Jen represented Australia at three Commonwealth Games, winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals, including her first medal as 15-year-old in the 400 IM, the event she won eight times at the Australian National Championships. Arguably her best event, Jen’s time in the 400m IM is the third-fastest time swum by an Australian female and remains the WA All Time Open record.
The Award for the able-bodied swimmer who is the most consistent performer at the SunSmart State Age Long Course Swimming Championships, aged 16 years for female athletes or 17 years for male athletes, will now be named the Eamon Sullivan Trophy. Eamon was the youngest male in the 2004 Athens Australian Olympic Team and improved his personal best in the heat time that gained him a spot in the final of the 4x100m Freestyle Relay. From a Relay swimmer to the “leading man”, Eamon swam his way to the top of Australian sprinting before becoming the World Record holder in the 50m and 100m Freestyle in early 2008. At his second Olympics in Beijing in 2008, Eamon twice broke the 100m World Record. Eamon continued his strong swimming form in 2012, qualifying for the London Olympics and swimming in the finals of both the 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay and the 40m Freestyle.
