Trisa Cheer-Dunn, a swimming coach and technical official, has achieved her dream of officiating at the Olympic Games, specifically at Paris 2024. Known for her presence at swimming competitions in the national aquatic center, Trisa has been involved in the sport for over 15 years.
She will serve as a turn judge and work in the video review room during the Olympic event. Trisa is notable for being the first female swimming official from Fiji to participate in the Olympics, following Dennis Miller, who was the first male swimming official from Fiji to do so.
Expressing her excitement, Trisa said, “It feels unreal. Now I got to tick that off my list.” She emphasized the importance of encouraging more technical officials in Fiji, citing the extensive knowledge required to keep up with ever-changing rules in the sport.
Trisa recalled the moment she received the invitation from World Aquatics in February, confirming her role at the Olympics. She has also officiated at major events like the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Her motivation in swimming comes from witnessing the progress of kids transitioning from beginner levels to podium finishes. Frustrated by the frequent disqualifications of her coaching students at competitions due to a lack of knowledge about the rules, Trisa decided to attend a technical official workshop to better equip herself for the role.
She reassured her young swimmers that finishing last didn’t matter as long as they avoided disqualification, allowing them time to improve their skills. Even though she coaches less frequently now, Trisa continues to work on organizing competitions and managing event schedules.
Looking to the future, she hopes to see more technical officials involved in swimming. There are various levels of technical officials—gold, silver, and bronze—and national federations nominate individuals who have officiated at two national meets to relevant Games.
Currently, World Aquatics recommends referees based on their official capacity, and two other Fijians, Amelia Simpson and Susau Elaisa, have also been recognized. Trisa advocates for recruiting more younger individuals into officiating roles, highlighting that former swimmers have a better grasp of the nuances of the sport.
She noted the shortage of officials on the pool deck, particularly stroke and turn judges, despite encouraging clubs to send volunteers for training. Trisa acknowledged the challenges they face, including the reluctance of parents and coaches during disqualification incidents, but stressed the importance of resilience.
Her advice to aspiring officials is to persevere, despite the difficulties they may encounter.