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David O'Brien, Australia
David O'Brien is an open water swimmer from Australia. He was introduced to swimming at a young age and progressed from a successful junior pool swimming career into surf lifesaving and open water swimming and marathon swimming over a 26-year career in Hong Kong , Singapore New Zealand and the USA. He is a qualified Helicopter Rescue Crewman, and an Offshore Marine Rescue Crew.
Open Water Swimming Career[edit]
- He has completed solo swims of the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. His swims, including 4 victories and a record time, have been honored by the Rottnest Channel Swim Honour Board.
- For years, he was Australia’s top and fastest marathon swimmer, winning Australian Open Water Swimming Championships over 5 years.
- He was named as Captain of the gold medal winning Australian Open Water Swimming team at the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.
- He has been an Australian Champion in open water surf races and found success in Surf Lifesaving at the State, National, and International level
- He won a world open water gold team medal and bronze medal in the 25 km marathon swim at the 1991 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.
- He won a gold medal in the 1995 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
- He won the 1991 USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championships 15 km marathon swim in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- He won the 1991 Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy in 6 hours 48 minutes 55 seconds.
- He won many ocean swimming events on Australia’s East Coast.
- He competed in two FINA World Championships and many International events in Europe and the Americas from 1991 to 1995.
Career Highlights[edit]
• NSW State Open 400/800/1500m freestyle pool swimming Champion in 1985 and 1986
• Australian Open Surf Belt National Champion 1988 – SLSA Australia Wanda Beach NSW
• Australian National Surf Lifesaving Team Captain - Trans Tasman Test to New Zealand 1989
• Australian Open Water 15 km Swimming Champion 1989
• Australian Open Water Marathon Swim Champion 25 km in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994
• Australian Open Water Swimming Champion 10 km in 1992, 1993 and 1994
• FINA World Ranking in Top 10 from 1991 to 1995
• USA National 15 km Champion 1991 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
• 1991 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships 25 km Bronze Medallist in Perth, Australia
• 1994 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships 25 km Gold Medallist in Rome, Italy
• 1995 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 25 km Gold Medallist in Atlanta, USA
• Rottnest Island 19.7 km Open water Swim 4-time winner 4 times in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 in Fremantle, Western Australia
• Awarded Australian Sports Medal - ASM in 2000 for contribution to Swimming and Open water Marathon Swimming
• First Australian Swimmer to Represent Australia in 3 separate Swimming disciplines: 1. Pool Swimming, 2. Surf Lifesaving, and 3. Open Water Marathon Swimming
• World Police & Fire Games 9 medals won in Pool / Open Water Swimming – 2011 New York
