Kieren Perkins OAM

Kieren Perkins is an Australian swimming hero and one of the world’s greatest long-distance swimmers. He is a dual Olympic gold and silver medallist and the first person in history to hold the Olympic, World, Commonwealth, and Pan Pacific titles simultaneously.

Kieren’s career began at just 15, while a student at Brisbane Boys’ College, when he qualified for the Australian swimming team. He went on to set 18 Australian records, three World records, and three Commonwealth records, representing Australia at competitions in Monte Carlo, Rome, Auckland, Canada, Barcelona, Atlanta, and Sydney 2000. His famous 1500m freestyle gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics captured the nation’s imagination, followed by World and Commonwealth titles and further world-record-breaking performances in 1994.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Kieren, as the slowest qualifier, claimed gold in the 1500m freestyle, a testament to his extraordinary determination, focus, and mental strength. He won silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before retiring from competitive swimming.

Since retiring, Kieren has built a successful career in business and sport administration. He has worked in consulting and banking, including joining National Australia Bank in 2010 and becoming CEO of Australian Unity’s retail banking unit in 2021. He currently serves as CEO of the Australian Sports Commission (from March 2022), President of Swimming Australia, and sits on the boards of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Pain Australia Ltd, and the International River Foundation.

Kieren is an accomplished speaker who draws on his experiences in elite sport to inspire audiences on leadership, teamwork, goal-setting, and overcoming pressure. His most popular keynote, From Lane 8, translates the discipline, focus, and resilience of competitive swimming into practical lessons for life and business.