SWIMMING: Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson together with past and present members of the Australian Swim Team today announced the re-launch the brand of the Dolphins as the brand of the Australian Swim Team.

Olympic gold medallists and former Australian Swim Team members Ashley Callus and Jodie Henry along with fellow Olympians and current Australian Swim Team members Cate and Bronte Campbell, , Mel Gorman and Christian Sprenger joined Mark Anderson at Sea World on the Gold Coast for the announcement.

“This announcement comes at a very exciting time for Swimming Australia. We are making good progress, having achieved some good results both in and out of the pool over the last 18 months and two weeks ago having announced a two year major sponsorship deal with Hancock Prospecting through until the end of 2016.”

“A key focus of the organisation as we have undertaken cultural change across the organisation over the last two years has been respecting our past, in creating the future,’ said Anderson. There is no better example of this than the re-introduction of the Dolphins as the brand of the Australian Swim Team. It is tremendous to re-launch the brand with our past, existing and future champions,” Anderson stated. “Importantly, this decision has been enthusiastically embraced by our current team who have always aspired to be selected in the Dolphins Australian Swim Team.

The Australian Swim Team was first referred to as The Dolphins back in 1989 and would soon go on to become one of the most successful brands in the Australian Sporting landscape. The Australian Swim Team has not competed as the Dolphins since 2009.

Being a member of the Dolphins launched a number of stellar careers; with swimmers such as Susie O’Neill, Nicole Livingstone, Linley Frame and Daniel Kowalski, all going on to become household names. The Dolphins brand became synonymous with success.

The General Manager of the Australian Swimmers’ Association (ASA) Daniel Kowalski said he had fond memories from his time as a Dolphin.

“It was a special time, they were memories of success, fast swimming and being part of an amazing team,” Kowalski said.

Former Australian Dolphin Swim Team member and now Swimming Australia’s National Training Centre and Network Support Manager Petria Thomas said as far back as she can remember, her sporting aspiration was to become a Dolphin.

“I always aspired as a young swimmer to become a member of the Dolphins squad as it represented reaching the pinnacle of Swimming in Australia.

I was fortunate enough to become a Dolphin at around the age of 17. I felt like I had joined an exclusive club that had a special status and was held in high esteem by the Australian sports loving community.

What I quickly learnt was that with that status came responsibilities. Responsibility to strive to be the best I could be and responsibility to inspire the next generation. I would encourage the current and future generation of Dolphins to embrace and cherish the opportunity and further develop and own the brand,” Thomas said.

Olympic gold medallist and current Australian Swim Team member, Cate Campbell said she was delighted have the Australian Dolphins Swim Team back today,

“As a young girl I was in awe of many members of The Australian Dolphins Swim Team. I remember wanting to desperately be part of such a team. I know that as a team we will continue to be united, relentless, resilient, respectful and always inspiring,” Campbell said.

In 2015 the Australian Dolphins Swim Team will be the spirit of the green and gold and stand by the mantra; to take pride in what it means to represent our country, be our best and take on the world and succeed.

This year our Australian Dolphins Swim Team will be selected at the conclusion of the 2015 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships, to be held at Sydney Olympic park from the 3rd – 10th April, 2015.

From here the Dolphins will take on the world at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia and the IPC World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

SWIMMING AUSTRALIA