Paul's Story
Paul Moorfoot was a versatile Australian swimmer who competed in backstroke, butterfly and individual medley events. Born in 1960, he emerged at international level as an 18-year-old at the Edmonton 1978 Commonwealth Games. Moorfoot won bronze in the 200m backstroke and also contested the 100m backstroke and 400m individual medley.
Moorfoot was 20 when he represented Australia at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games. His strongest performance came in the 200m backstroke, where he won his heat in 2 minutes, 4.87 seconds before finishing eighth in the final. He also placed 15th in the 200m butterfly and 23rd in the 400m individual medley.
Moorfoot’s ability to compete across three demanding events demonstrated his range as a swimmer. His appearance in the 200m backstroke final was the highlight of his only Olympic campaign. He later combined pool swimming with surf competition, winning three gold medals at the inaugural World Interclub Surf Titles in 1981.
