Pin Them Down: A Look At a Special Tradition Within Australian Swimming

Emma McKeon wave 2 DELLY CARR (Swimming Australia)

Pin Them Down: A Look At a Special Tradition Within Australian Swimming

(Ian Hanson Contributed to This Mini-Feature)

Most sports have traditions. There’s the NHL’s handshake line at the end of a playoff series and the exchange of jerseys between players following games – notably on the soccer pitch, and in the NBA and NFL. There’s also the presentation of the Green Jacket at the Masters, placed on the new champion by the reigning champ.

A longtime tradition in the sport of swimming, although not well known around the world, is the assignment of pin numbers to new members of the National Team by Swimming Australia. When an athlete earns his/her first berth to represent Australian swimming on the international stage (Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacific Championships), he/she receives a pin marked by a number which signifies his/her place in line as a Dolphin. To date, more than 800 swimmers have been honored through the system.

Along with the pin, new Dolphins team members are presented with a passport wallet that includes the history of the National Team. More, team members are presented with a gold cap, with their pin number emblazoned on it.

The fact that Australia has fostered this tradition adds to the prestige of wearing the country’s Green & Gold in competition around the globe. It also associates athletes with a specific number for eternity, digits that become part of a specific athlete’s legacy.

The McKeon/Woodhouse clan boasts five pins. Ron McKeon (Dolphin #272) and Susie Woodhouse (Dolphin #311) married after their competitive days and their children, Emma McKeon (Dolphin #702) and David McKeon (Dolphin #721, have also earned pins. Meanwhile, Rob Woodhouse, Susie’s brother, is Dolphin #310.

Here’s a look at some notable Aussie athletes and their pin numbers. Individuals who competed before the tradition officially started were presented with retroactive pins and numbers.

1 – Fred Lane
2 – Cecil Healy
9 – Fanny Durack
19 – Andrew “Boy” Charlton
75 – Lorraine Crapp
86 – Dawn Fraser
101 – Murray Rose
214 – Shane Gould
394 – Kieren Perkins
478 – Grant Hackett
494 – Ian Thorpe
544 – Leisel Jones
665 – Cate Campbell
702 – Emma McKeon
761 – Kyle Chalmers

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Marayke Caroline

1 year ago

It is a special tradition indeed. Remember about the Australian Paralympic team as well -we also receive numbers referring back to the very first Paralympian Ti swim ??‍♀️ for Australia. I’m dolphin ? #p192

William Park

1 year ago

Reply to Marayke Caroline

Awesome what we do here is they all get an Olympic Ring. Both able bodied and Para athletes. We started this in 1984 Before I know their was a team in 1976. The swimmers had their own made for the swimmers.

William Park

1 year ago

This is a great tradition just continue

Elizabeth Edmondson

1 year ago

I found out today that I’m pin 14 – I was 14 when I represented Australia at the Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games