PINNACLE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

THE VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT

APRIL 2012 | AUTUMN EDITION | ISSUE 86

Olympic medallist and World Champion

Matt Targett

The final countdown….we are within sight of the London

Olympics and Paralympics. For so many of our athletes this

is the culmination of years of training and preparation, for

others it is the start of their Olympic or Paralympic journey, for

a rare few it is a return to the mountain they have climbed

and conquered and for others the disappointment of being

so close is still ringing in their ears.

It is fitting therefore that we kicked off this year with the official

opening of our new facility at Lakeside Stadium. A facility

that has seen athletes “vote with their feet” in terms of support

and usage and has also been well received by coaches,

service providers and staff. Minister for Sport & Recreation,

the Hon Hugh Delahunty and Minister for Major Projects, the

Hon Denis Napthine joined our many partners, sponsors, past

and current athletes, the Board and staff in celebrating this

further milestone for the Victorian Institute of Sport. A live

cross during the Channel 10 news also gave us exposure to

the Victorian community.

This next couple of months is critical in fine tuning our athletes

to enable them to compete at their very best in July, August

and September. Not to be forgotten, however, are the

Melbourne Vixens who are looking to bounce back after a

couple of disappointing seasons and a very long break in the

domestic season, to reclaim their place amongst the top two

Australian teams in the ANZ Championships. Our Winter Sport

athletes have just come off a European and North America

season which has seen some very promising developments

ahead of Sochi in 2014 with Mitch Gourley (VIS/AIS) ranked

third in the world in Paralympic alpine skiing and aerial skiers

Laura Peel (VIS/AIS) ranked four in the world and Danielle

Scott (VIS/AIS) named the World Cup Rookie of the Year.

Golfer Kieran Pratt had his break through maiden Asian Tour

win in the Zaykabar Myanmar Open. If the start of the year

is a reflection of what is to come, then we have a great year

ahead of us.

May the road ahead be paved with success and satisfaction

by all for a job well done.

ANNE MARIE HARRISON CEO VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT

My parliamentary colleague and Minister for Major Projects,

Dr Denis Napthine and I recently had the pleasure of officially

opening the new home of the Victorian Institute of Sport at

Lakeside Stadium. We look forward to reaping the benefits of

this world class venue in the years to come and congratulate

all involved with the project.

On top of this brilliant new facility, we are proud to continue

our support of the VIS as well as ongoing investment in state

sporting associations to assist in growing sport participation.

This investment is truly paying off, with 404 athletes receiving

VIS services, female athlete representation at 49 per cent and

representation of athletes with a disability at 13 per cent.

We look forward to the London Games with optimism as

last year 67 percent of our athletes were on national teams

or squads, supported by 78 percent of VIS coaches at the

national level. These are great results for Victoria and proof

that our hard work and investment are paying dividends.

Well done to our VIS Olympic and Paralympic athletes who

have secured their spots on the Australian Team so far,

including boxer Ibrahim Balla, K1 men’s canoeist Warwick

Draper, Carmen Marton in taekwondo, swimmers Matt Targett

and Matson Lawson, synchronised swimmer Tarren Otte, table

tennis player Miao Miao and Paralympic table tennis players

Melissa Tapper and Rebecca McDonnell and wheelchair

rugby players Nazim Erdem, Jason Lees, Andrew Harrison,

Greg Smith and Josh Hose.

On behalf of the Victorian Government I wish all athletes,

coaches and support staff on the path to London 2012 all the

best.

Rest assured you will have all of Victoria cheering for you.

HUGH DELAHUNTY MPMINISTER FOR SPORT AND RECREATION

3 Welcome

contents...3. Welcome

5. Rowing

6. Swimming

9. Canoeing

10. Track & Field

12. What It Takes

13. Social Media

15. The Institute

Welcome 4

Saturday, 16 August 2008 will be

remembered by the VIS and rowers

nationwide as one of the most

successful days in Australian Olympic

history. The medal haul of two gold

and one silver at Shunyi Park Beijing,

lasted only one hour, but its impact

is undeniable; that hour transformed

the Olympic campaign for the VIS, for

Australia, and inspired thousands of

emerging rowers across the country.

The question on everyone’s lips is,

are the rowers ready to repeat their

unbelievable Beijing feat?

Following the National Olympic

Selection Trials, Rowing Australia has

nominated the bulk of its team for

submission to the AOC. The VIS is very

proud of the efforts of our rowers with

14 athletes named in the 33 confirmed

seats in nine qualified boats – which

represents an impressive 42% of the

team as it currently stands!

In the Men’s Double Scull David

Crawshay will attempt to defend his

Olympic title while Karsten Forsterling

will be aiming to add to his World

Championship title in the Men’s Quad

Scull. Drew Ginn and Josh Dunkley-

Smith will be joined by fellow VIS athlete

Will Lockwood and James Chapman

(NSWIS) in a new look Men’s Four aiming

to emulate the deeds of the Oarsome

Foursome of years gone by and bring

back gold!

Kim Crow will be looking to go one

better than her World Championship

silver in the Women’s Double Scull and

likewise the women’s pair of Sarah Tait

and Kate Hornsey will hope to improve

on their bronze from last year’s World

Championships.

After their fourth placing last year the

Men’s Eight will be targeting a medal

in London; VIS athletes on board

are Cam McKenzie-McHarg, Francis

Hegerty, Josh Booth and Tom Swann.

The Women’s Quad was also a close

fourth last year but will be boosted by

the inclusion of two VIS athletes,Pippa

Savage and Pauline Frasca.

The amazing VIS input to the Australian

Rowing Team doesn’t end with the

athletes, as coaches Chris O’Brien and

Bill Tait will also be in green and gold,

with Chris coaching the Men’s Coxless

Four and Bill looking after the Women’s

Coxless Pair.

The VIS presence in the team is almost

certain to be further boosted as five

rowers contest seats in the Men’s Pair,

including scholarship holders James

Marburg and Tom Larkins.

Following extensive trialling a

Women’s Eight has also been

named to contest the Olympic

Qualification Regatta in late May

in a bid to qualify the boat for the

London Games. VIS athletes involved

in this boat are Phoebe Stanley,

Robyn Selby Smith and cox

Lizzie Patrick.

rowers ready to repeat beijing feat?

Matson LawsonKate Hornsey and Sarah Tait

5 ROWING

VIS swimmer Matson Lawson has flown

under the radar to book his seat on the

plane to the London Olympics following

his stunning performance at the

Australian Swimming Championships

in Adelaide. The 19 year old from the

Mornington Peninsula stormed home in

the 200m backstroke to finish second

in 1:58.53, shaving almost two seconds

off his personal best time! Lawson’s

place earned him an Olympic berth in

the event. His selection to the Olympic

Team is Lawson’s first Australian team

representation - junior or senior - a

remarkable achievement. His reaction:

What were your first thoughts when you realised you’d made the team?

When I finished and looked up at the

board, it was a relief to know all the

hard work and training had paid off; but

there was also some disappointment

to know that my training partner and

fellow VIS athlete, Josh Beaver, would

not be joining me at the Games.

What’s your program between now and London?

My program between now and London

consists of 18 long weeks of hard

training at my home pool – and that’s it!

I’m not planning to take any fancy trips,

I will just be slogging it out at home.

Is there any one person who has helped you more than anyone else in the last few years?

There are too many people to mention,

but to name just one person it would

have to be Josh Beaver. If it wasn’t for

him training next to me, I wouldn’t be on

that plane to London.

Have you set any goals for London?

No, not yet. It is still something I have to

think about and discuss with my coach.

What are you expecting at the Games?

I have no idea what to expect! I have

never even been on an Australian team

before, so at this point, all I can say is –

it’s going to be an amazing experience!

london awaits matson lawson

It’s going to be an amazing experience!

120402-PA-VIS Pinnacle 1/2 Page.indd 1 5/04/12 2:58 PM

Matson Lawson

6SWIMMING

Olympic medallist and reigning 4x100m

freestyle World Champion Matt Targett

has made his second Olympic Team

and will swim in the much hyped men’s

4x100m freestyle relay team in London.

Matt zeroes in on his Olympic target

below:

What were your first thoughts when you realised you’d made the relay team?

I was relieved when I found out that I

had made it, knowing that all my hard

work and training had paid off. I was

also taken aback by the standard to

actually make the team.

What’s your program between now and London?

I will most likely head to the northern

hemisphere to do some training

with and racing against some fast

international swimmers. I am also

planning to compete in a US and

European competition. I like the way

I’m swimming, and I’m happy I’ve

stayed out of the physio’s office and the

doctor’s office and I hope it stays that

way leading into the Games!

Matson Lawson also made the team, however he’s never been on any Aussie team - what advice would you offer him about the Olympics?

I was lucky enough to sit by Matson

for both of our flights to and from the

Olympic orientation camp, so I have

already managed to share a lot of

advice with him. His very first race, the

200m backstroke heats, will be prime

time in Australia so I’m sure he will enjoy

knowing that millions of Aussies will be

watching and supporting his effort. I

trust that he will represent Victoria and

Australia well.

Any London goals you’d like to put on the table at this stage?

The Olympics is like no other event and

I’m really looking forward to London,

however, it’s a bit too early to put any

goals on the table. I’m eager to see the

US Olympic trials in June, the selections

there will help to give me a better idea

of what to expect at the Games.

meet matt targett

Mat t Target t

7 SWIMMING

His smile lit up the Olympic and Paralympic swimming trials in

Adelaide as much as his performance lit up the pool after VIS

swimming sensation Ahmed Kelly qualified for a place on the

Australian Paralympic swim team. Ahmed, 20, has earned a

priority two selection in the 50m breaststroke, continuing one

of the most moving sports stories imaginable.

As a baby, Ahmed was abandoned in an Iraqi orphanage

with severely deformed arms and legs, and only a slight

chance of survival. He was rescued by Moira Kelly and her

Children First Foundation and brought to Australia for surgery

and a new life. Ahmed said, ‘Australia has given me a new

opportunity to live life to the max.’

Ahmed’s journey to Paralympic qualification has been over

four years of hard training with swimming coach Brad Harris.

‘It is everything I have worked for and it is something I have

always wanted to do - thank you to everyone in Australia for

everything they have done for me.’

Ms Kelly burst into tears of excitement at her son’s

achievement; ‘I still can’t believe he has done it. I feel so

proud, and all Victorians should feel so proud because he

is there to represent us,’ she said. ‘It is a way to show that

anyone can achieve their dreams.’

against all odds

The lure of competing in the London Olympic Games was just too much for

Tarren Otte, who announced her retirement after narrowly missing a medal at the

Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The VIS athlete decided that she did not want

to miss out on London and managed to successfully secure her place on the

Australian synchronised swimming team.

‘I did retire after Delhi and had a year off but I have lived in the sport for so long

and I love all the girls so I thought I can do one more,’ Otte said. ‘We finished

seventh in Beijing and we would love to finish seventh or better in London. We

have a very talented squad but there is a lot of hard work involved.’

Also in the team are Otte’s Beijing teammates Tamika Domrow and Samantha

Reid, while making their Olympic debut will be Olga Burtaev, Jenny-Lyn

Anderson, Bianca Hammett and Francesca Owen.

synchronised swimming otte’s last splash

Tarren Ot te

Ahmed Kelly

8SWIMMING

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11

Warwick Draper is hoping it will be third

time lucky in London this year. The 35

year old recently won selection for his

third Olympic Games team, in the K1

slalom event, and it’s all about a medal

this time around. Warwick speaks with

Marketing and Community Projects

Coordinator, Rick Wall.

What were your first thoughts after realising you’d done enough to make the team?

My first emotion was one of absolute

relief; closely followed by excitement for

what lay ahead.

What’s your program between now and London?

It starts with five weeks of training here in

Australia, followed by a two week camp

in London to get to know the Olympic

course. Then I have four weeks back in

Australia. After that it’s back to Europe

in June for World Cups in France and

Spain and another camp in London.

Then I’m off to Slovenia for another

two week training camp before

heading back to London for the

Games in mid-July.

Have you got any goals for London?

After a ninth-place finish in Athens in

2004, and a fifth placing in Beijing, I’m

hoping for a similar improvement this

time. My sights are set on one thing -

I’m going to London with the goal of

winning a gold medal.

Is there any one person who has helped you more than anyone else over the last couple of years?

I have had a really strong relationship

with my close friend and coach, Robbie

Parker. Robbie has been supporting me

since 2009.

What’s the best tip you can offer Olympic debutantes?

Staying focused on your competition is

great but also take the time to absorb

the atmosphere at the Games. It is

special and can give you a different

type of energy, especially being part

of the Australian team which has such

a great, positive vibe that makes you

realise that absolutely anything is

possible.

interview with warwick draper

Warwick Draper

9 CANOEING

interview with warwick draper

Capturing the true ancient Olympic

principles, track and field athletics is

probably the most popular sport on

the Olympic program and the action

in London is not going to disappoint:

athletics features 2,000 athletes running,

walking, jumping and throwing for gold.

Could 1500m runner Kaila McKnight

soon become a national household

name as an Olympic hero?

What were your first thoughts after realising you’d done enough to make the team?

Immediately after the race it was just a

sense of elation, and then when things

started to sink in a few minutes later I

really started to get a sense of pride.

For most people in this sport, it is their

dream to represent their country at an

Olympic Games and now I get that

chance. I want to take this chance now

and do Australia, my family and friends

and myself proud.

What’s your program between now and London?

At the moment (March) I am

completing altitude training at Falls

Creek for three gruelling weeks. I then

return home before the Australian

National Championships in mid-April,

followed by some races in early May

in Asia. It’s then a hard training block

during May and June to finish off my

base training before leaving for my

London training base in late June.

Have you set any goals for London?

I want to go into London in the best

training condition of my life. So that is

definitely one goal. Then as far as the

competition goes, like any other, I aim

to do the best that I can on the day. I

firmly believe that the key to my success

is always in my preparation. So for the

moment, I am focusing on reaching all

my individual training goals in the lead-

up.

Is there one person who has helped you more than anyone else over the last couple of years?

Behind every Olympic athlete I’m sure

there is an amazing support network

to get them to where they are. I am no

different. My support team consists of

my coaches, both running and strength

and conditioning, training partners,

the VIS, Athletics Victoria, Athletics

Australia and finally my friends, family

and husband. All of these people ride

the journey with you. My family and my

husband probably feel the ups and

downs more than anyone else and

without them picking me up during

the tough times I wouldn’t be going to

the Olympic Games in London. I can’t

thank them enough for their support,

encouragement and help.

You haven’t been to an Olympic Games previously, so what are you expecting?

I’ve been lucky enough to represent

Australia at a Commonwealth Games

and the World Championships, so I

have some sense of the pride that I

know I am going to feel when I get to

that start line, but this is the pinnacle of

our sport, so I know that there will be so

much more to the whole experience

as well. I am enjoying the anticipation

of what awaits. I can’t stop dreaming

of race day at the moment...it’s a huge

motivation for my training.

five questions: getting to know kaila mcknight

10TRACK & FIELD

Having performed strongly in Australia in the past few years,

25 year old Jeff Riseley knows the next step in his development

is making a real mark at a major global championships. Jeff

talks about his road to the London Olympic Games below:

What’s your program between now and London?

I am currently up at Falls Creek in the Victorian Alpine Region

for a three week altitude training camp. I will then be based in

Europe from June until the Games. I also have a few races in

Asia in May to break up the training and to make sure I don’t

get stale!

Have you set any goals for London? I have a couple of goals. However after being sick in Beijing

and unable to perform to my full potential and being

extremely disappointed, I want to walk off the track, no

matter what the result is in London, and feel like I gave it my

all and represented myself and my country well.

Who has helped you more than anyone in the last couple of years?

Nic Bideau my coach and manager has put an enormous

amount of time in over these past four years. Also the

guys behind the scenes like Andrew Lambart my physio,

Garry Miritis my masseur, Andrew Russell my strength and

conditioning coach and Peter Fuller my sports doc have

been unbelievable in their support. I must also give special

mention to the VIS and Derek Boothroyd and Marina Mateos

who has been fantastic with her assistance in helping me to

manage my study with my training load and constant time

spent abroad. Unfortunately living out in the outer suburbs I

am unable to make full use of the awesome facilities of the

VIS, especially the new Lakeside venue.

What are you expecting at the Games?

I am expecting London to put on an amazing Olympic

Games, however, it is going to be really hard to trump Beijing

as they did an incredible job in organising the 2008 Olympics.

I am also looking forward to being a part of a great Australian

team and seeing some fantastic results.

running on expectation

Craig Mottram is an icon of Australia’s track

and field team and is considered one of

the most competitive middle distance

runners globally, in a career spanning over a

decade. Craig has booked a spot at his fourth

Olympics, and is close to regaining the form

that made him one of the most feared middle

distance runners in the world. He talks briefly to

the VIS’ Rick Wall:

Your thoughts after realising you’d made the team?

I had a real mix of emotions. A bit of relief, and

a huge sense of satisfaction.

Your program between now and London? I will be based in Australia until the end of May.

Then I’m heading to the USA for a training

camp until late June. After that I will head to

my European base for a few races before the

Olympics start in late July.

Any goals for London?

To do my best! I am expecting to just enjoy and

compete well.

Who has helped you more than anyone over the last few years?

I have had a great team of people who have

helped and supported me over the last couple

of years – from my family and coach to the VIS

and sponsors, all have played an integral role

in my journey.

craig mottram going for gold

Craig Mot trom11 TRACK & FIELD

In the next few months, the curtain will

rise on the London 2012 Olympic and

Paralympic Games. For many athletes,

the Games will be the pinnacle of their

sporting career. It is hard to imagine

every detail that goes into an athlete’s

preparation for the famed event, but

these are some things that come to

mind:

preparation Almost any Olympic or Paralympic

athlete will agree that strength and

conditioning is fundamental to success

in sport – not only in terms of strength

and performance enhancement, but

for injury prevention, balance and

technique control. The expert VIS physical

preparation team tailor individual

programs to the needs of each athlete

depending on their sport, physical

condition, goals and any injury or

balance problems they may have.

The London Games are the first Olympic

and Paralympic Games the VIS has

been able to prepare for in the new,

technologically advanced, Lakeside

facility. In cooperation with VIS sport

science and sport-specific coaching

staff, the physical preparation team

has broadened its approach to athlete

management – improved testing,

planning and monitoring of the athletes

and their training loads. Wherever VIS

athletes are in the world, the physical

preparation team can liaise with

them and assist with their preparation.

However, perhaps as a result of the world-

class facility and increased resources,

more athletes have chosen to prepare in

Melbourne and work with the staff they

know in the lead-up to the Games.

nutrition Between now and the Olympic

Games, VIS Dietitians will design high

performance eating plans specifically

tailored to meet the athletes’ individual

training needs for their sport, taking

into account their individual body

composition and nutrition status as

well as food preferences and cooking

ability.

VIS Dietitians will use this time to focus

on specific issues relevant in the lead up

to the Games, including general health

and the immune system, recovery,

hydration and competition and travel

nutrition.

The VIS Dietitians will be helping

athletes, coaches and other key

support staff looking after our athletes

to better understand how they can

recover from one training session and

present well fuelled for the next. This

means consuming the right amounts

and types of carbohydrate and protein

immediately after a training session

to start the recovery process. In some

cases supplements will be required

to support recovery and these will be

supplied to the athletes by Gatorade

and Musashi.

These athlete-tailored nutrition and

hydration programs are designed to

help athletes perform to the best of their

ability. The end result? A well fuelled

high performing athlete!

psYcHoLoGY

When it comes to an event like the

Olympic or Paralympic Games, beating

your opponent is not the only focus.

With the excitement of travelling

overseas, the opening ceremony and

the all-nation athlete village comprising

just some of the extraordinary Olympic

and Paralympic stimuli, half the task is

ensuring athletes are not distracted by

the hype. For first-time Olympians and

Paralympians, it is undoubtedly a very

daunting scene.

Sport psychologists advise athletes

to enjoy all the extra excitement and

the thrill of representing their country

at the Games, but to still make sure

the main focus is on competition

and performance. Athletes are

encouraged to expose themselves

to the environment a few days

before their competition: familiarise

themselves with both the village and

their competition venue, try and see

another event, complete a training

session in their competition gear and

chat to some experienced Olympians

or Paralympians about how to

handle everything. Many athletes will

encounter foreign food options, altered

sleep arrangements and increased

media attention - which can all

become a distracting influence.

The key to remaining focused is to

‘control the controllables’ - maintaining

routine and sticking to a plan when it

comes to eating and sleeping patterns,

family/social time, training and recovery

and all the usual pre-competition

practices, will ensure the best chance

of a successful performance.

what it takes to be an olympic athlete

12WHAT IT TAKES

social media montage

Jess Gallagher: Watching the V8’s scream past as I do my weights @VicInstSport...how good is this!!!

Katy Parrish: Watching the #F1 at @VicInstSport with @KelCartwright89! Great view! Good way to end a gym session:)

Tim Blanchard: Just training @VicInstSport watching @v8supercars. How cool is that!!

Kelsey Brown: training @VicInstSport with this just outside the front door! #specialtreat .look close enough and you’ll see a F1 lockerz

Sean Wroe: @VicInstSport @SeanWroe rollin’ fashions on the field.

Danielle Stefano: Couldn’t be prouder of @erindensham today!! 1st place at Mooloolaba World Cup! Worked hard & well deserved!! Bring on Sydney! @VicInstSport

Ahmed Kelly (Facebook): HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Since 2012 is an Olympic/Paralympic year, I hope it brings you all many opportunities, gives you a chance to explore every joy of life and allows you to further embrace your family and friends. What a year it will be and I am already determined and excited! I wish you all a fantastic 2012. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Drew Ginn: So great to see Harry Brennan back at the @VicInstSport that’s great news

Marieke Guehrer: A massive thank you also to @VicInstSport for this season and my entire “comeback” campaign. Staff and services are legendary x

Shane Perkins: @VicInstSport thank you for your never ending support, last night was a testament to your unwavering support in me over the many years!!

Jess Gallagher: Just spoke to some schools with Glenn Singleton (Kayaker) as part of the @VicInstSport schools program. What a fun AND educational day!

Luke Parker: Just won the 2011 Austral WheelRace! Couldn’t be happier. Thanks to @VicInstSport for all their support & everyone for the kind messages.

Geva Mentor (Melbourne Vixens): After hearing the VIS was moving last year I’ve had a twinkle in my eye for the opportunities that having a gym on turn 3/4 of the Melbourne GP would bring...sweet sounds, distractions from programs as I peer out the windows for a great view...gives me goose bumps and a smile from ear to ear feel like a kid in a candy shop! Team McLaren all the way!”

13 SOCIAL MEDIA

olympic facts1. Did you know that all athletes competed in

the nude at the ancient Olympics?

2. In the 1908 and 1912 Games, Australia competed with New Zealand under the name Australasia.

3. Australia has hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice - in 1956 in Melbourne and in 2000 in Sydney.

4. Australia and Greece are the only two nations to have participated at every Summer Olympic Games of the modern era.

5. Edwin Flack was the first athlete to represent Australia at the Olympics - he won gold in both the 800m and the 1500m of the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

6. When London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012, the city will become the first to host the Games three times: 1908, 1948 and 2012.

7. The London Olympic Stadium will have a capacity of 80,000 during the Games - It is the lightest Olympic stadium ever built!

8. The steel used to build the Aquatics centre in London comes from Newport in Wales.

9. The amount of material that had to be excavated to build the Aquatics centre was the equivalent of 160,000 tonnes of soil!

10. London 2012 is the first Summer Games to calculate its complete carbon footprint.

11. The Motto for the London 2012 Olympic Games is ‘Live as one’.

12. Wenlock and Mandeville are the official mascots for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, respectively.

@scottyjames31: Feeling the pain after a hard session at @VicInstSport this afternoon. No one make me laugh, my stomach hurts too much! #sorecore

@burna5 That time of year again. @VicInstSport ‘s Aerial Skiers going through their water jumps

@derek_boothroyd Another perfect day here at Lakeside Stadium with @VicInstSport athletes for Day 2 of the National Championships.

@KelCartwright89 My number 1 fan! Lost my medal to him but I don’t mind :) #socute #soproud

@MatthewTargett Will you put some clothes on for goodness sake! @HeraldSunEye @VicInstSport

14SOCIAL MEDIA

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15 THE INSTITUTE

Our new facility represents one of

the best examples of ‘architectural

marriage’ in Australia with buildings

from different centuries merging in

a spectacular relationship that is as

functional as it is handsome.

From the outside the unassuming

1926 red brick grandstand still meets

the criteria of its very worthy Heritage

Victoria overlay but the inside astounds

and captivates the visitor with a tri-level

glass fronted modular design concept

that opens up onto vistas of the sports

facilities and the Albert Park tree line.

The grandstand’s original steel

supporting pillars remain in situ but

rather than being boxed-in, or hidden

behind walls, on two levels they’ve been

turned into features surrounded by glass

flooring.

On the ground floor a modern

gymnasium and pool appear to ‘open

out’ on to the world class running

track while a new sprung floor hall fits

tidily on the north western end of the

grandstand.

The precinct itself is rich in Australian

sporting culture.

From 1862 the Lake Oval, as it was

known to generations of sports fans,

was the home of the South Melbourne

Cricket Club, which went on to produce

nine Australian cricket captains, more

than any other club in Australia.

From 1874 the South Melbourne Football

Club was also based here.

In 1901 the Lake Oval famously hosted

the biggest annual sporting event

in Australia - a VFL grand final. A

quarter of a century later the current

grandstand was constructed on the site

of an older building which had been

destroyed by fire.

The Lake Oval further enhanced its

reputation as one of Melbourne’s best

football facilities when thousands

of fans would flock to the ground in

September each year to watch night

football games featuring the eight VFL

clubs which didn’t make the finals.

Night lights shone on the Lake Oval from

1956 until 1971 but as the fortunes of the

South Melbourne club fell away so did

the upkeep of the ground.

In 1982 South Melbourne moved north

and was reborn as the Sydney Swans.

The famous Lake Oval was revamped

as a soccer facility and hosted a

Socceroos match. A rock concert

featuring the legendary Australian

group, Midnight Oil, was also staged at

the ground.

But there were insufficient funds to

maintain the historic grandstand which

faced an uncertain future when it fell

into abject disrepair.

Fortunately Melbourne has one of the

world’s great sporting cultures and a

plan was hatched to not only save the

heritage of the precinct but to marry

it up with new training and athletic

facilities that are of an international

standard.

We are justifiably proud of our new

home.

inside the institute

16THE INSTITUTE

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PINNACLE Official Publication of the

Victorian institute of sport Lakeside Stadium, 33 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park, VIC, Australia

P +61 3 9425 0000 | www.vis.org.au

acKnoWLeDGeMents | Rick Wall, Ashley Carr, Mandy Passmore, Deirdre Boyd

Olympic medallist and World Champion

Matt Targett