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Kevin Berry

Kevin is regarded as one of the supreme butterfly swimmers of his time. He would create and hold 12 world records between 1961 and 1968. He also won nine gold medals in individual and relay events at Australian championships.

Swimming
1945 – 2006
  • Status: Pending
    1960
    Rome Olympics
  • Status: Pending
    1962
    Perth Commonwealth Games
  • Status: Pending
    1964
    Tokyo Olympics
  • Status: Pending
    1966
    200M Butterfly Gold 2.06.6 (WR)

Beginnings

In December 1958 while swimming in a butterfly event for Pyrmont ASC in an inter club carnival, Kevin was spotted by Don Talbot who asked Kevin to join his squad and train at Bankstown Pool as a ‘Fly swimmer'. He became a member of Bankstown Swimming Club.

Achievements

In February 1964 Kevin won both 200 metres and 200 metres butterfly at the National Championships to gain Olympic selection (200 metres event swam in world record time of 2:06:9).

In 1959, at 14 years of age, Kevin was one of the nation's youngest Olympians, when he was selected to swim for Australia at the 1960 Games in Rome. Kevin would again be selected to represent Australia at the Perth Commonwealth Games in 1962, creating 3 world records.

Post Representation

In 1968 Kevin retired from competitive swimming and went on to become the photographer/photographic manager at the Sydney Morning Herald from 1970 until 1985. From 1985 to 1987 he was the Head of Television Sport, ABC. Sadly, Kevin died in a Sydney nursing home in December 2006, aged 61.