We caught up with Swimming NSW’s Olympic Technical Official, Faye Lewis, about her experience in Paris. Here’s what she made of it.
I was honoured to be selected as one of 21 International Technical Officials for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Arriving three days before the games began, we stayed in a hotel near La Défense Stadium, where a temporary pool was built to accommodate 20,000 spectators. The pool and its facilities, including the marshalling and control rooms, were constructed on scaffolding to appear at ground level.
The days leading up to the event were filled with uniform fittings, preparation seminars led by the referee team, and bonding with fellow officials. We engaged in small group discussions on the toughest rules to officiate and the best way to observe the race. Protocols and positioning were also a focus as it was crucial to meet broadcast requirements and ensure optimal observation of the swimmers. We were part of the show!
Each evening, we received our daily appointments. My roles included Inspector of Turns, Chief Inspector of Turns, Warm-Up Supervisor/Resolution Desk, and Video Review Judge.
What was your favourite part:
My favourite part was putting into practice what I had worked towards for over 20 years. Officiating at National, Oceania, and international meets gave me the confidence to perform at this level. Despite my occasional imposter syndrome, I was proud that I had the courage to report two infractions that I observed and was able to “Let it go” and continue to focus on officiating when they were not accepted. I stayed sharp throughout the nine-day competition, despite a 25-hour flight and a significant time zone difference. I also felt I was a good leader for less experienced officials.
Did you get to see any of Paris?
We were fortunate to attend the Opening Ceremony and had about six hours between heats and finals. During breaks, a small group of us explored Paris, visiting landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, and the Olympic Cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens. On the last day, we enjoyed a river cruise on the Seine. We made sure that we had plenty of time to be back and be rested for the evening session.
What was your favourite swim:
There were many world-class performances, despite reports of a slow pool. Some highlights included:
Emma McKeon’s incredible 100m freestyle swims in the relay after missing out on the individual event at trials.
Kylee McKeown winning back-to-back Olympic golds in both backstroke events.
Katie Ledecky’s stylish victory in the 1500m, earning her fourth Olympic gold in the event.
What are things you will remember/favourite moments:
The sportsmanship of the Australian athletes especially the relay girls giving their medals to the heat swimmers and jumping into the pool at the end of the event in celebration of Emma.
Hearing our national anthem on pool deck and the French anthem sung in full voice.
Working with a dedicated group of officials, catching up with old friends, and meeting new International Technical Officials (ITOs). Discussing all things officiating and how things are done in different countries.
The electrifying atmosphere created by 17,000 spectators. We think it is annoying when coaches whistle in the breaststroke but the unified cheers for Leon Marchand in the breaststroke was spine-tingling. It was difficult not to get caught up in the excitement and stay focused on the event.
The nervous anticipation before marching onto the pool deck and goose bumps every time I walked out on pool deck and the pride of representing the Australian Technical Official team.
