YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Kieren Perkins OAM
1992 Award

Olympic Swimmer

Perkins started swimming to help heal a severed leg muscle. By 19 years of age he held three Australian titles, three world titles and 18 Australian records. At the Barcelona Olympics he took gold in the 1500 metre freestyle, slashing the world record by 4.9 seconds. He won four gold medals at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

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