Legendary swim coach Don Talbot who helped Australia clinch 18 medals at the Sydney Olympics dies aged 87

  • Legendary Australian swimming coach Don Talbot died aged 87 on Tuesday
  • He was at helm during 2000 Olympics when national team delivered best results
  • His career began in 1956 when he began coaching John and Isla Konrads 

By Kelsey Wilkie For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Legendary Australian swimming coach Don Talbot has died aged 87. 

Talbot, who was at the helm during the Sydney Olympics when the national team delivered its best results in almost 30 years, passed away on Tuesday. 

His career began in 1956 when he began coaching John and Ilsa Konrads at the Bankstown pool in Sydney.

Legendary Australian swimming coach Don Talbot has died aged 87

Legendary Australian swimming coach Don Talbot has died aged 87

Talbot has helped guide many notable Australian swimmers over the years, including John and Ilsa Konrads and  Michael Klim (pictured)

Talbot has helped guide many notable Australian swimmers over the years, including John and Ilsa Konrads and  Michael Klim (pictured)

He rose to notoriety by guiding the pair to world records and international medals and was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1979.

Talbot coached Australian men's Olympic swimming team from 1964 to 1972 but later moved to Canada due to a lack of funding in Australia. 

He moved to the US in 1978 where he coached the national swimming team for the 1980 Games prior to the American boycott.

Shortly before 1988 he returned to Australia after being let go by the Canadian Olympic Committee for demanding stricter qualifying standards. 

Talbot, who was at the helm during the Sydney Olympics when the national team delivered its best results in almost 30 years, passed away on Tuesday

Talbot, who was at the helm during the Sydney Olympics when the national team delivered its best results in almost 30 years, passed away on Tuesday

During his time as the head coach of the Australian Swimming squad he delivered stunning results

During his time as the head coach of the Australian Swimming squad he delivered stunning results

Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ian Thorpe is pictured with Talbot near the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2003

Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ian Thorpe is pictured with Talbot near the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2003

During his time as the head coach of the Australian Swimming squad he delivered stunning results. 

One of his greatest achievements came during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney where his team won 18 medals.  

Messages from heartbroken friends and family have been flooding in after news of his death broke. 

Swimming Canada tweeted: 'We are sorry to hear about the passing of Don Talbot. We send our thoughts to his family and friends'.   

Don Talbot's coaching career: 

1956: He began coaching John and Ilsa Konrads at the Bankstown pool in Sydney 

The Latvian pair set world records and won four medals at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

1964: Talbot was named head coach of the Australian men's Olympic swimming team.

1972: Moved to Canada where he became the head coach of the national team.

1978: Moved to the US to coach the national team prior to the American boycott.

1979: Talbot was inducted into the International Hall of Fame.

1983: Returned to Canada where he helped the Olympics team rise to second on the medal table at 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

1988: Was let go by the Canadian Olympic Committee for demanding stricter qualifying standards.

1989: Became the National Head Coach of Australian Swimming.

2000: Helped the Australian team deliver its best Olympics results with the swimming team winning 18 medals.

2001: Retired from the sport.

 

Most watched News videos

Comments 2

Share what you think

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.