Passages: Australia’s John Carew, 81

SYDNEY, Australia, November 9. AUSTRALIAN swimming has lost one of its greatest ever coaches with the death of master coach John Carew who died overnight, aged 81.

The man who guided Kieren Perkins to two Olympic gold medals, died peacefully in his Brisbane home after a long illness.

Swimming Australia president and life-long friend, David Urquhart described Carew as a "pioneer in all forms of coaching."

"John's passing is a huge loss…he will be remembered as nature's gentleman…a great Australian," said Urquhart.

"He was a pioneer in all forms of coaching, from learn-to-swim to elite level and fully deserved of the title as a master coach.

"I will miss him as a mate and as a professional coach. We shared so many great times together and swimming in Australia can be thankful of the role he has played and the legacy he has left."

The man who he tailor-made to become "King of the Pool" – dual Olympic gold medallist Perkins was on hand recently to accept Carew's induction into the Sporting Hall of Fame.

Perkins spoke glowingly of the man he still called "Mr Carew" as a mark of respect to the coach who took him from the wading pool at the age of nine to Olympic champion in 10 years.

The partnership of Carew and Perkins chalked up two Olympic gold and two silver; two world championships; three Commonwealth Games gold; three Pan Pacific gold and eight world records.

Carew was the man who guided Perkins to one of the Olympic movement's greatest ever triumphs, his gold medal win in the 1500m freestyle in Atlanta in 1996.

Carew became the 10th coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and joined fellow legendary coaches Fred Cavill, Frank Gutherie, Sam Herford, Forbes Carlile, Harry Gallagher, Joe King, Terry Gathercole, Don Talbot and Laurie Lawrence in a who's who of swimming coaches.

Perkins was glowing in his praise for the man who prowled the pool deck morning, noon and night.

"Everything I achieved I owe to Mr Carew," said Perkins, "he not only made me the swimmer I was but also the man I am today.

"After all I probably spent more time with him than I did with my own parents – he was a wonderful influence on my career and my life."

Australia's National Head Coach Alan Thompson, currently in Moscow with a group of Australia's Telstra Dolphins Australian team members for the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup, paid tribute to a man who played such a key role in a golden era of the sport.

"John Carew was a typical hard-nosed Australian, who would not take a backward step for anyone and got the absolute best out of his athletes and they knew exactly when they stood that's for sure," said Thompson.

"I was fortunate enough to be a team manager on the Australian teams through the 90s and in 2000 and to see the job he did was Kieren and then prepare Hayley Lewis for her third Olympics was history in the making.

"He leaves a wonderful legacy with the John Carew Swim School and his assistant coaches like Glenda Radley played such a key role in carrying on the Carew coaching skills.

"John will be sadly missed. He was a great character, who was as loyal as the day's long and swimming in Australia will be saddened by his loss."

Australian Swimming and Teachers Association president Rohan Taylor, the man who coached Leisel Jones to gold in Beijing, spoke on behalf of Australian coaches when he said: "John was truly one of our great coaches, a man who commanded so much respect from coaches and swimmers alike.

"We have all learnt so much from John, who was always willing to share his secrets with anyone who was willing to listen.

"John's passing is the end of an era for Australian swimming and coaching but his family and the swimming family can be thankful for the legacy he has left us all."

Special thanks to Swimming Australia for contributing this report.

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