| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Swimming | ||
| Competitor for Australia | ||
| Bronze | 1968 Mexico City | 4x100 m freestyle |
Robert Cusack (born 10 December, Maryborough, Queensland 1950) was an Australian butterfly and freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Born in Maryborough, Queensland his uncle was Arthur Cusack, the coach of double Olympic backstroke champion David Theile who also came from Maryborough, Queensland. Cusack combined with Michael Wenden, Bob Windle and Greg Rogers to win bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay, behind the United States and the Soviet Union. He also competed in the medley relay, missing bronze by 0.1s, the 100m butterfly, finishing eighth in the final and the 200m butterfly being eliminated in the heats.
He first started competitive swimming at age 9 coached by his father Robert Cusack and then later during his summer vacations he would travel to Brisbane to train with his uncle Arthur Cusack at the Centenary Pool, Brisbane where his uncle was the lessee of the pool. His uncle went on to coach him into the Australian Olympic team for the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. ,[1]
He recalled these days training with his uncle in an interview in 2004,[2] " We'd train seven miles a day, three sessions a day all through the holidays. Then at night time we'd get into the diving pools and search the bottom for any loose change."
He later went onto become a professional coach commencing at the Indooroopilly Swimming Club in 1977 and continues to coach at the same club. He has trained numerous State and National swimmers from the club including his own son Simon Cusack who was an Australian National Age Finalist. Simon is head performance coach at Indooroopilly alongside his father who is Director of Coaching. [3] Simon is the current coach of Australian Swimming Team swimmers Cate Campbell and triple olympic gold medalist Jodie Henry. [4]
In 2004 in honour of his dedication and commitment to swimming, the community bestowed the honour of naming the swimming pool at Indooroopily after Robert Cusack.[3]