For technical officials, participating in the Olympic Games is a significant aspiration, much like it is for athletes. Swimming coach and technical official Trisa Cheer-Dunn has realized this dream by being appointed as a technical official for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
Trisa is a well-known presence at the national aquatic center, regularly seen at various swimming competitions, including club events, national championships, and regional meets. After more than 15 years in the field, she has achieved her goal of serving as a technical official at the Olympics, taking on roles such as turn judge and working in the video review room during the Games. Notably, she is the first female swimming official from Fiji to officiate at an Olympics, following in the footsteps of Dennis Miller, who was the first to represent Fiji.
Reflecting on her achievement, Trisa expressed, “It feels unreal. Now I got to tick that off my list.” She also emphasized the importance of encouraging more technical officials to get involved, noting that the experience gained is invaluable. She highlighted the ongoing education required in the role, as rules regularly change and staying updated is essential.
Trisa discovered her selection as a technical official when she checked the list from World Aquatics earlier this year, having also served at the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in December. Her passion for swimming stems from witnessing her students progress from beginner levels to podium finishes. She became a technical official to better understand the competition rules and help her swimmers avoid disqualifications, stating, “The first thing I would tell them at competition was I don’t care if you finish last but don’t get disqualified.”
Although her coaching commitments are less frequent, Trisa continues to manage official duties such as organizing competitions and scheduling events. She hopes to inspire more technical officials to emerge in future competitions, noting that World Aquatics has established a recommendation system for referees and officials.
Trisa is keen to involve more young people in technical officiating, especially former swimmers who have a better grasp of the sport. She serves on the world technical committee and has been active in addressing the need for more stroke judges and turn judges at events. Despite some reluctance from clubs to send representatives to workshops, she remains determined.
She advises upcoming officials to persevere, acknowledging that the role can be challenging but rewarding in the long run.