Tributes flow for swimming ‘pioneer, innovator’ Forbes Carlile

FORMER Olympian and swimming coach Forbes Carlile died today, aged 95, after a brief illness.

Forbes Carlile back where it all began at Palm Beach rock pool

FORMER Olympian and swimming coach Forbes Carlile died torday, aged 95, after a brief illness.

Although Mr Carlile never lived on the peninsula, he launched his career as a swimming coach at the Palm Beach rock pool in 1946 and two years later was appointed Australia’s swimming coach at the 1948 Olympics.

Forbes Carlile at North Sydney pool

In 1952 he represented Australia as an pentathlete, becoming the only person to coach an Olympic team and then become a competitor.

Mr Forbes coached the Australian swimming team at the 1956 Olympics, advised the team at the 1960 Olympics and coached the Dutch team at the 1964 Olympics.

Jenny Turrall

In 1977 he established the Carlile Swimming Club at the Academy of Sport at North Narrabeen and in 1985 he bought the Killarney Heights swimming pool, which operated as a learn-to-swim facility.

In his long career, Mr Forbes was showered with honours and awards, including being made a Member of the British Empire (MBE).

He coached many Olympians, the most famous of whom was Shane Gould, who won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals at the 1972 Olympics.

A local Olympic swimmer, Jenny Turrall, who competed at the 1980 Olympics, was also coached by Mr Forbes, although Mr Forbes was one of those who heeded the call of then prime minister Malcolm Fraser to boycott the Moscow Games following the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan the previous year.

While competitive swimming remained Mr Forbes’ main passion, he was also interested in learn-to-swim techniques and he and his wife Ursula developed many pioneering techniques.

Carlile Swimming director Richard Cahalan said the swimming fraternity was the poorer for his passing.

“A pioneer, an innovator, a scientist and widely considered as ‘swimming’s conscience’, Forbes will be sorely missed by his staff, his swimmers, his coaching peers and the worldwide swimming community,” he said.