It’s been almost 30 years since Kieren Perkins stamped himself as an Aussie Olympics legend – and he looks VERY different now
- Australian swimming legend Kieren Perkins still looks in top form
- Winner of famous gold in the 1500m freestyle at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games
- The 1996 Atlanta swimming competition surprised the world when he won from lane eight
He’s largely been out of the spotlight since becoming an Australian sporting legend after stunningly winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And ‘Superfish’ Kieren Perkins is still looking fit 28 years later.
The CEO of the Australian Sports Commission posed with TV presenter Mark Beretta in Paris on Thursday and the veteran Channel Seven sports presenter was clearly impressed.
On InstagramBeretta posted a photo of the duo, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Beretta captioned the photo: “When an Olympic legend visits the Games, it’s a special occasion! Great to see @Olympics Gold Medallist Kieren Perkins @Paris 2024. The CEO of the Sports Commission is having a field day here.”
Perkins, 50, was born in Brisbane and started training for the swim team at the age of eight as part of his rehabilitation following a serious leg injury after running through a plate glass window as a boy.
His talent was obvious and Perkins won his first medal as a teenager at the Australian Championships in 1989. Three years later he went to the Barcelona Olympics as favourite in the men’s 1500m freestyle.
The Queenslander delivered a victory in Spain by hitting the wall in a smooth 14:43.48.
Kieren Perkins is pictured (center) after winning the 1500m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
Perkins won from lane eight in the US, surprising the field and confirming his victory at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Today, Perkins is CEO of the Australian Sports Commission (pictured left, with TV personality Mark Beretta in Paris this week)
Four years later, Perkins’ greatest achievement in the pool was probably.
Perkins was out of shape and was fortunate to qualify for the finals in Atlanta via lane eight. When it mattered, he showed his class by beating the field in a flash and winning another Olympic gold.
This swimming feat established Perkins as a legendary Olympic swimmer. And incredibly, at the age of 27, he was already competing in the Sydney Olympics, where he was a ‘veteran’ on the Dolphins team.
Fellow countryman Grant Hackett prevented Perkins from achieving a historic third place in the 1500m final by taking silver, but his legacy remains.
After retiring from swimming in 2000, Perkins was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame two years later.
In 2020, Perkins was appointed President of Swimming Australia (SA) before taking up his current role as CEO of the Australian Sports Commission.
Perkins has stirred controversy in recent years after stating that he believes transgender athletes are “grossly misunderstood.”