Olympic Gold Medalist to speak at AIME 2005

At the ICMI Speakers Showcase at AIME 2005, one of Australia’s most admired swimmers, Daniel Kowalski, will tell of the challenges he has faced during his international swimming career and how he overcame them.

AIME 2005, 13th AsiaPacific Incentives and Meetings Expo will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Australia, 22 and 23 February. 

Daniel Kowalski is unlike any other swimmer. Constant injury problems forced Daniel to retire from competitive swimming in May 2002, but his remarkable ability to ride out adversity and still produce extraordinary performances throughout his career has made him a sporting legend.

After a viral infection destroyed his final preparation for the Commonwealth Games trials in 1994, he stunned Australia, by beating the Olympic champion Kieren Perkins over both the 400 metre and 1500 metre freestyle events.

Before he raced at the World Championships in Rome, Daniel had been violently ill with food poisoning. Still suffering acutely, he swam a personal best time.

After moving to Melbourne he concentrated on preparing for the Atlanta Olympics where – thanks to his endurance over the last few years - he walked away with more medals than any other Australian – a silver and two bronze.

In 1997, a serious shoulder injury effected his preparation for the World Championship trials. He confounded everyone, including himself, by qualifying for the 4 x 200 metres relay and the 1500 metres freestyle, where he came home with two medals – a gold in the relay and a bronze in the 1500 metres.

So it is not surprising that Daniel qualified for the Australian Team for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, despite missing a lot of training due to shoulder surgery. Here, another gold medal was added to his list of accomplishments.

As a great swimmer and as mentor to the Australian Swimming Team that competed in Athens, Daniel has some inspirational stories to tell.

The ICMI Speakers Showcase will be held from 8.00am to 9.45am on Wednesday 23 February at AIME 2005. AIME will include 800 exhibitors from 45 countries and is expected to attract more than 2,800 visitors.

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