“SUPER BOHL“
Michael Bohl (1971-1979) retired after the Paris Olympics as one of the most successful swim coaches, both in Australia and in the World! Michael has now coached 11 swimmers to individual Olympic medals and 5 to individual gold medals. Forever humble, Michael will not count or take credit for his swimmers winning relay medals!
At the Paris Olympics, Michael coached Kaylee McKeown to win back-to-back gold medals in both 100m and 200m backstroke and a bronze medal in the 200IM and silver in the 4x100m medley relay. Michael once again coached Emma McKeon at her third Olympic Games where she became Australia’s most successful Olympian, winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay; silver in the 4x100m medley and bronze in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. Emma finished her Olympic career with 14 medals (6 gold). Michael also coached Lani Pallister, who placed 6th in the 800m freestyle final and then won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
All the Michael Bohl coached swimmers at Paris were effusive in their praise for Michael and attributed their success to him. This admiration for Michael as a coach and mentor exceeds three decades as Michael’s swimmers have represented Australia at eight of the last nine Olympic Games, going right back to Barcelona, 1992. Australia and the MCA OBA salutes you Michael, such an absolute icon of swimming!
“SENSATIONAL SAM”
Sam Short (2014-2018) narrowly missed a podium finish in the 400m freestyle final. Sam placed fourth (3.42.64), only 0.14 seconds behind third placed Kim Woo-min of South Korea who was being coached rather controversially by one of the Australian assistant coaches! Sam finished 9th in the 800m freestyle heats and missed qualifying for the finals by one place. In the 1500m freestyle, Sam finished 13th and just missed the final in that event too. Sam was 20 years old at Paris, so Sam should be a real force at LA in 2028!
“MAGIC MARCUS”
Marcus Berehulak (2013-2018) also made his Olympic debut in Water polo and experienced a nail biting quarter-final loss to USA in a heartbreaking shootout, 11(7)-10(7). USA won the shootout 4-3 and pinched the semifinal spot. Earlier, Australia had defeated the Tokyo Olympic Champions Serbia in their round robin match. The team placed eighth at the end of Olympic competition. The Aussie Sharks best result was 5th at LA in 1984 and also at London in 2012. Look out for a medal at LA in 2028!
“AWESOME ABBY”
One of the best players for the Aussie Stingers Women’s Water Polo team was Abby Andrews. Abby’s father is Ross Andrews(1979-1983), and her uncle is Ross’s brother, Mark Andrews(1985) who also attended MCA as a dayboy from Everton Park, and then boarder when the family moved to Sydney in 1984. Abby’s great uncle is Marist Rosalie’s talented sportsman, Peter Dawson(1960) who is a brother to Ross’s Mum, Beverly. Ross and 32 of the immediate family went to Paris to cheer Abby on and it had a positive effect as Australia opened the Olympics with a 7-5 win over China! The Stingers got off to a quick start by scoring the first two goals of the contest, including a penalty score from Andrews. The Stingers then progressed undefeated to the semifinal where they shocked the defending champions USA, winning in their breathtaking third penalty shootout which finally ended at 6-5. Abby had fired in three extraordinary left handed throws past the despairing goalie to tie up the match (8-8), that forced the match into overtime,winning on the twelfth failed penalty shot! The Stingers finished with silver, after Spain managed to edge the Stingers in a closely contested gold medal match, 11-9.
“INSPIRATIONAL GENEVIEVE”
Genevieve Gregson(nee Lacaze) is the daughter of Tony Lacaze(1973) and niece of Dom Lacaze(1976). Genevieve is best known for her accomplishments in the 3000m Steeplechase where she was a dual finalist in 2016 and 2021. Gen placed 9th in the final at the Rio Olympics in 2016. At Paris in 2024, Genevieve ran the marathon and finished 24th (2.29.56).
Congratulations and well done to all our Old Boys and families!