The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) and Surf Life Saving Australia aim to push for the inclusion of life-saving sports in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Life-saving sports have historically served
Life-saving sports have long served as a training ground for numerous Australian elite Olympians including the likes of Ky Hurst (open water swimming), Michelle Steele (winter Olympics - skeleton), Kim Crowe (rowing), Grant Hackett (swimming) and kayakers Kenny Wallace, Clint Robinson, Grant Kenny and Tom Green.
ILS President Graham Ford AO, said, "Today marks the first official steps we are taking in pursuing an Olympic dream for life-saving sport, with some of the biggest names in the sport, both past and present, joining us. Internationally, lifesaving sport continues to grow with our World Championships attracting more than 7,000 competitors across multiple age groups.
"Our goal is to have the Ocean Man & Ocean Woman events, together with a mixed Ocean Relay, included as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Our sport is unique, with all our members trained lifesavers who are rescue ready and have the ability to perform rescues and save lives.
"While in Australia people may widely recognise the Ironman and Ironwoman Series, we have actually been part of the World Games since 1985. This is our chance to provide athletes from our sport the opportunity for an Olympic pathway."
The 2024 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast attracted more than 8,100 participants over nine days.
Surf Life Saving Australia's President John Baker ESM AM, said, "We are thrilled to be working with the ILS to have our sport as part of the vibrant Brisbane 2032 sports programme. We want to create a pathway for our athletes so they don't leave our sport to pursue an Olympic dream.
"In Australia we have more than 80,000 members aged under 18 years old, showing the depth and breadth of our movement and a strong pathway from which athletes could be selected. Australia will later this year host the ILS World Championships on the Gold Coast, with Australia holding the reigning World Ironman and Ironwoman crowns."
Former world and Australian Ironman Trevor Hendy AM could not hold back his excitement at the announcement. "When you have something that you really want, you get nervous on the inside," he said. "The fact that we've put our foot on the line and said we really want to be in this...I was a bit nervous because it means so much to so many people. And I think the Life Saving movement is a movement of the heart."
Ironwoman legend, former world and Australian champion, Karla Gilbert OAM added: "It would just be amazing - I am just so excited by the thought of our sport going on that next tier, presenting what we do to the world. We've got not just the athletes themselves, but the community behind us."
Triple Olympian and Olympic kayak gold medalist, Ken Wallace OAM, said: "It's an incredible opportunity that we have in front of us. I was one of those athletes that did delve into both and I'm very comfortable in saying that I never left surf life-saving to go to an Olympic Games. Surf life saving was part of my Olympic Games."
The International Life Saving Federation will be working with key stakeholders from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games to pursue avenues to entry into the Olympics.