Technical officials, much like athletes, aspire to participate in the Olympic Games. For swimming coach Trisa Cheer-Dunn, this ambition has become a reality. A prominent presence at the national aquatic center, Trisa is a well-known figure at swimming events, including club competitions and national and regional meets.
After dedicating over 15 years to her profession, she has achieved her dream of becoming a technical official at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she will serve as a turn judge and assist in the video review room. Notably, she is the first female swimming official from Fiji to officiate at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of Dennis Miller, the first Fijian swimming technical official to attend an Olympic event.
Trisa expressed her disbelief at achieving this milestone, stating, “It feels unreal. Now I got to tick that off my list.” She encouraged more local technical officials to gain experience, highlighting the ongoing need for education regarding frequently changing rules.
Reflecting on her journey, Trisa shared that her motivation comes from witnessing young swimmers advance from beginner levels to podium finishes. Her initial inspiration to become an official stemmed from frustration over the children she coached being disqualified due to a lack of understanding of the rules. This motivated her to attend a technical official workshop to better guide her swimmers.
Trisa now emphasizes that while winning is important, avoiding disqualifications takes precedence: “I don’t care if you finish last but don’t get disqualified. Once you don’t get disqualified, we can work on your speed and other things.”
Although her coaching responsibilities have decreased, she remains heavily involved in officiating duties, including organizing competitions and managing event schedules. Trisa hopes to see an increase in the number of swimming technical officials attending future competitions.
With various levels of technical officials classified as gold, silver, and bronze, national federations typically nominate officials to relevant Games if they have officiated at two national meets. Recently, World Aquatics has recommended referees from a nomination list, which includes two additional officials from Fiji.
Trisa pointed out the importance of encouraging younger individuals, particularly former swimmers who possess a better understanding of the sport, to participate in these roles. She also emphasized the ongoing need for volunteers and timekeepers at club levels and noted challenges in recruiting these individuals due to the potential backlash from parents and coaches during disqualifications.
Despite these challenges, Trisa has developed resilience over the years and advises future officials to remain steadfast: “Never give up; it’s going to get tough but keep moving forward.”