Athletes inducted into SOPAC Path of Champions

25 Australian Olympic Champions, World Champions and World Record Holders have been inducted into the Path of Champions at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC).

The Path of Champions – a display of bronze plaques each marking the name and achievements of one of Australia's top-performing sports men or women – includes the 'Aquatic Centre Path of Champions' and the 'Athletic Centre Path of Champions.'

The Aquatic Centre Path of Champions honours Australian athletes who attain the status of Olympic Champion (gold medallist), World Champion (gold medallist) or World Record Holder in the FINA events of Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming.

The Athletic Centre Path of Champions honours NSW athletes who have attained the status of Olympic Champion, World Champion or World Record Holder in International Association of Athletics Federations recognised track and field events.

The Path of Champions is displayed at the forecourts of the Aquatic and Athletic Centres.

Since its inception after the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Path of Champions has honoured athletes such as Dawn Fraser, Ian Thorpe, Andrew 'Boy' Charlton, Shane Gould, Susie O'Neil and Murray Rose, to name but a few.

New athletes are inducted into the Path of Champions once every few years and this year – the 20th Anniversary since construction of the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic and Athletic Centres – 2014 Path of Champions inductees included Paralympic swimmers and athletes.

The 25 newly-inducted athletes in the Path of Champions are:

SWIMMING:  Matthew Abood, Cate Campbell OAM, Alicia Coutts OAM, James Magnussen, Brenton Rickard, Jessicah Schipper OAM, Melanie Wright OAM, Matthew Targett, Brittany Elmslie OAM, Bronte Campbell, Marieke D’Cruz , Christian Sprenger, Eamon Sullivan and Emma McKeon.

OPEN WATER: Melissa Gorman

WATER POLO: Chris Wybrow

ATHLETICS: Dani Samuels

AQUATIC PARALYMPICS: Siobhan Paton OAM, Jacqueline Freney OAM and Matthew Cowdrey OAM

ATHLETIC PARALYMPICS: Louise Sauvage OAM, Amy Winters OAM, Heath Francis OAM, Kurt Fearnley OAM and Evan O’Hanlon OAM.

For more information about the Path of Champions go to www.aquaticcentre.com.au/attractions/path_of_champions

Image shows:

Front Row (left to right) - Heath Francis OAM, Amy Winters OAM, Louise Sauvage OAM, Jessicah Schipper OAM, Melissa Gorman, Jacqueline Freney OAM, Matthew Abood, Brenton Rickard.

Back Row (left to right) - Cate Campbell OAM, Melanie Wright OAM, Bronte Campbell, Alicia Coutts OAM, Brittany Elmslie OAM.

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