Coaching Icons Turn 80

By Phillip Whitten

JULY 11. TWO of the world's most celebrated swimming coaches celebrated a significant milestone recently: their 80th birthday.

America's Peter Daland reached his 80th birthday on April 12 while Australia's Forbes Carlile reached his 80th on June 3.

Daland, who retired as the longtime coach of the University of Southern California (USC) ten years ago, was several times the US Olympic coach. He has been president of the American Swimming Coaches Association and is an outspoken opponent of doping in sport.

Carlile has been the conscience of the sport for decades. A competitor in modern triathlon at the 1948 Olympics, he coached the Australian Olympic swim team for several Olympiads, beginning in 1952.

Outspoken and utterly fearless, Carlile has been Australia's leading opponent of doping and has also taken the lead in fighting performance-enhancing equipment, such as the bodysuits.

These two coaches are swimming's living legacy. We wish them both (belated) happy birthdays and many more happy returns.

Readers can convey their birthday wishes to Daland and Carlile by e-mailing: SwimPhil@aol.com

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