Sally Hunter was told multiple times to ‘retire’ or ‘give others a go’ after the 2012 London Olympics. This only added fuel to the fire. A year later, at the FINA World Championships she won a silver medal in 4x100m medley relay for Australia.
The 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, is perhaps where it all started for Sally Hunter.
On 18 December 1933, Evelyn de Lacy set a Western Australian state record in the 100-yard freestyle and was later selected to represent Australia at the 1936 Olympic Games, becoming WA’s first female Olympian.
As a reflection of the times, the competing teams were asked to give the Nazi salute to Hitler during the Opening Parade. Some did, although most did not.
Born in WA, Sally Hunter is Evelyn de Lacy’s niece.
She too would become an Olympian – twice.
Sally Hunter competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, in the 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, and at four World Championships.
Her leadership capabilities were obvious from the start, selected to be a part of the Australian Swimming Team leadership group for four years.
As a breastroker, she qualified for the final of the 2012 London Olympics 200m event.
Alongside the legendary Cate Campbell, Sally Hunter swam the breaststroke leg of the silver medal winning 4x100m medley relay at the FINA World Championships in 2013.
She also was a skilled freestyler, and several times she was a heat swimmer at FINA world championships in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relays, helping to qualify Australia for a place in the finals.
Sally Hunter’s story is one of ambition, drive and perseverance. Here she explains part of her journey: “I was told multiple times that I should “retire” and “give others a go” at making the team post the London Olympics. Instead, I moved to Adelaide to train at the SA Sports Institute under Peter Bishop. Within six months, I won both the 200 and 100 metre breaststroke for the first time. I then won a silver medal at the 2013 Barcelona World Championships.”
She was also a Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist in Glasgow in 2014.
After retiring, she took on a Board Director’s role with Swimming South Australia. Having returned to her native Western Australia, she now runs a Mentoring and Coaching business.
Sally Hunter has been inducted into Swimming SA’s Hall of Fame.
