Trisa Cheer-Dunn, a dedicated swimming coach and technical official from Fiji, has achieved her long-held dream of officiating at the Olympic Games, specifically the upcoming Paris 2024 event. With over 15 years of experience, Trisa is a familiar presence at the national aquatic center, participating in various swimming competitions, including club events, national championships, and regional meets.
As a turn judge, she will also be assigned to the video review room during the Olympics, marking her as Fiji’s first female swimming official to officiate at the esteemed event, following Dennis Miller, who was the country’s first swimming technical official at the Olympics.
Trisa expressed her disbelief and excitement at this milestone, stating, “It feels unreal. Now I got to tick that off my list.” She encourages more technical officials to get involved, highlighting the importance of keeping up with the constantly evolving rules of the sport. “When you come to the Olympics, there are always changes regarding procedures and regulations,” she noted.
Upon receiving her official invite from World Aquatics in February, Trisa made sure to double-check the list of officials. Last December, she served as one of the technical officials at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Her passion for swimming stems from witnessing the progression of young athletes from learn-to-swim levels to podium finishes. Frustrated by seeing her swimmers disqualified at competitions due to a lack of understanding of the rules, she took the initiative to attend a technical official workshop to better support her team.
“Once you don’t get disqualified, we can work on your speed and other things,” Trisa explained, emphasizing the importance of understanding the rules to avoid disqualification.
Although her coaching responsibilities have lessened, she continues to handle a variety of official duties, including organizing competitions and coordinating event schedules. Trisa hopes to see an increase in the number of swimming technical officials in future events, noting the different levels of officials recognized in the sport.
Recently, World Aquatics recommended referees, and two other Fijians, Amelia Simpson and Susau Elaisa, have also been listed as referees and starters, respectively.
Trisa advocates for more young people to become involved in officiating, especially those with backgrounds as former swimmers, as they possess a better understanding of the sport. Despite facing challenges and resistance from clubs to send volunteers for competitions, she remains optimistic and advises young officials to persevere, stating, “It’s going to get tough but keep moving forward.”