Academy Patron - Tim Forsyth
Tim Forsyth, Barcelona Olympics
Tim Forsyth has been Australia's best ever high jumper, and one of the best in the world.
Career
Tim grew up in Gippsland, initially competing with the Yallourn/Newborough club. He progressed quickly, and soon transferred to Glenhuntly, a Victorian metropolitan club.
In 1990, at 16 years of age, Tim bettered the Australian open record in an international competition on Bulgaria with a leap of 2.29 metres. From then on Tim became a major force on the international scene.
Two years later, at the Barcelonia Olympics, Tim tied with four other athletes at the same height. The event was decided by a countback, and as a result Tim was awarded third place.
A Commonwealth Games win followed in 1994. After that, a run of Injury or bad luck interferred with Tim's hopes of further Olympic or world championship medals. Even so he continued to compete successfully, at the international level.
The year 1997 marked a return to top form with a third place at the World Championships (2.35 metres) and a personal best which set the present Australian record of 2.36 metres.
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Patron role
As the Academy was being established Tim was invited to assist. During his own career Tim had won a scholarship to the Victorian Institute of Sport, and had a strong appreciatiion of the benefits which sports intitutes and academies can provide to athletes. Tim personally provided invaluable support in making reperesentations to government, to sponsors, and in providing valuable contacts.
Tim's role in assisting with the Academy's formation, and his his continuing support are greatly appreciated by the Academy's Board and staff. ork with Athletics Australia indicate his love of athletics. He continues as the Academy's patron, and his keen support has been honoured by the annual Tim Forsyth Award to the year's top athlete.