Adam Pine returns home with Olympic champions

THREE-time Olympian Adam Pine returned to Lismore this week to inspire the next generation of athletes as part of the Olympics Unleashed tour.

The 49-year-old champion swimmer was joined by hockey gold medallist Brent Livermore, cycling great Bradley McGee and swimming star Giaan Rooney on school visits organised by the Australian Olympic Committee.

The initiative celebrates Australian athletes who competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and included stops at primary and high schools across Lismore.

Pine grew up in Lismore, attending Lismore Heights Public School before moving on to the local high school. He later won a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and went on to represent Australia in swimming from 1993 to 2009.

“Lismore is where it all started for me, and it was fantastic to go back to where I first started making state teams,” Pine said.

“It was a great walk down memory lane, I probably got as much out of it as the teachers and students.

“There is definitely something in the water at the Northern Rivers, we’ve had a few Olympic champions from the region and it’s a great environment for people wanting to play sport.

“I think it’s important to show kids in these areas that anything is possible and hopefully we inspired a few of them who might want to go down that path.”

Pine represented Australia at three straight Olympic Games in 2000, 2004 and 2008, with the 100m butterfly his signature event along with the 4x100m freestyle and medley relays.

He also took part in four Commonwealth Games during his career, setting a record for an Australian athlete at the time.

Since retiring, Pine has worked in administration with Swimming Australia, driving its Paralympic programs. He was team leader of the Australian squad at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the 2020 Paralympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

He later founded the ACT Physical Activity Foundation, which aims to break down barriers to playing sport, and now works with Invictus Australia.