2008 TELSTRA SWIMMER OF THE YEAR NAMED TOMORROW NIGHT
SYDNEY, Sunday, October 26: Swimming Australia will tomorrow night announce the 2008 Telstra Swimmer of the Year at a glittering ceremony at the Convention Centre, Darling Harbour.
The "who's who" of the swimming world will be strutting the "blue carpet" for the announcement of the 19th winner since Glen Housman was named the first Swimmer Of The Year in 1990.
Over the past two decades names such as Hayley Lewis, Kieren Perkins, Susie O'Neill, Michael Klim, Ian Thorpe, Jodie Henry, Grant Hackett, Leisel Jones and Libby Trickett have all won the top award.
An Olympic year always brings out the best in Australia's swimmers and 2008 has certainly been no different with a spate of world records, gold medals and stunning performances in one of the most exciting 12 months the sport has seen.
It began with Eamon Sullivan's world record at the NSW Championships before a stunning eight day Telstra Australian Championships and Olympic Trials that witnessed the arrival of Stephanie Rice and brilliant world records to Trickett and Sullivan.
The FINA World Short Course Championships in Manchester also saw the Telstra Dolphins produce outstanding performances with a further spate of gold medals and world records.
The Beijing Games then provided the perfect stage for Australia's golden girls Rice, Jones and Trickett to shine and they all won individual gold medals - Rice in the 200 and 400m individual medleys, Jones in the 100m breaststroke and Trickett in the 100m butterfly.
The Australian foursome of Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda MacKenzie also claimed gold in a stunning 4x200m freestyle relay.
The team that left Beijing with a record 20 medals will be the toast of an evening that will also honour the 2008 International All Star Team, the prestigious Telstra Swimmers Swimmer of the Year, the Telstra Swimmer of the Year With A Disability and the Telstra People's Choice Award, which has seen over 14,000 votes for Australia's most popular swimmers.
Swimming Australia will also honour some of its past stars with the Speedo Services to the Australian Swimming Team Award.
Blue carpet arrivals will be from 6.30pm with the major awards to be presented from 9.30pm with the Telstra Swimmer of the Year scheduled for 10pm.
PREVIOUS TELSTRA SWIMMER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
1990 Glen Housman QLD
1991 Hayley Lewis QLD
1992 Kieren Perkins QLD
1993 Kieren Perkins QLD
1994 Kieren Perkins QLD
1995 Susan O'Neill QLD
1996 Susan O'Neill QLD
1997 Michael Klim VIC
1998 Michael Klim VIC
1999 Ian Thorpe NSW
2000 Ian Thorpe NSW
2001 Ian Thorpe NSW
2002 Ian Thorpe NSW
2003 Ian Thorpe/Grant Hackett NSW/QLD
2004 Jodie Henry QLD
2005 Grant Hackett QLD
2006 Leisel Jones QLD
2007 Libby Lenton QLD