Trisa Cheer-Dunn, a swimming coach and technical official, has achieved her dream of becoming a technical official at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A well-known figure at the national aquatic center for over 15 years, Trisa will serve as a turn judge and will also be part of the video review room during the event. This remarkable accomplishment makes her Fiji’s first female swimming official to represent the country at the Olympics, following Dennis Miller, who was Fiji’s first swimming technical official at any Olympic Games.
Expressing her excitement, Trisa stated, “It feels unreal. Now I got to tick that off my list.” She emphasized the importance of encouraging more technical officials in Fiji, highlighting that the role requires continuous learning and staying updated on rule changes.
Trisa was previously involved as a technical official at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and is passionate about guiding young swimmers. Motivated by the desire to prevent disqualifications during competitions, she took part in workshops to better understand the rules and ensure her athletes could perform without penalties.
Although her coaching responsibilities have decreased, she remains active in administration and organization of swim competitions. Trisa aims to inspire more young individuals to become technical officials, particularly former swimmers who can leverage their experience for the role.
Despite the challenges, including the reluctance of some clubs to engage volunteers, Trisa remains optimistic about the future of swimming officiating in Fiji. She advises new officials to persevere despite the difficulties they may face.