Like athletes, participating at the Olympic Games is also a goal for technical officials (TO).

This was a dream come true for swimming coach and technical official Trisa Cheer-Dunn.

Trisa is a familiar face at the national aquatic centre at every swimming meet whether it’s a club competition, nationals or regional meets.

After more than 15 years of doing what she does, she smashed her goal to be a technical official at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

She was a turn judge and also scheduled to the video review room during the Games.

She may be Fiji’s second swimming official to officiate at an Olympics but she was Fiji’s first female to do so.

According to Trisa, Dennis Miller was the Fijian swimming technical official at any Olympic Games.

“It feels unreal. Now I got to tick that off my list,” she said.

“I’d like to encourage more technical officials at home, experience is something else, there’s a lot of reading, learning– rules changes regularly and you have to be on top of the rule all the time.

“When you come to the Olympics there are always changes on how you march in and out, where you stand and at what time, all those happen behind the scenes.”

Trisa had check the list of officials more than once when she saw the invite from World Aquatics in February this year.

She was also one of the TO’s at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, last December.

“I think what’s keep me going in swimming all these years is seeing kids go from learn to swim level to podium level, that’s what drives me.

“It’s not about being an elite swimmer.

“I’m a swim coach and I got into being an official because I was getting upset every competition we went to the children were getting disqualified because I did not know the rules.”

She decided to take herself to a technical official workshop to learn the rules so she could coach swimmers accordingly to avoid being disqualified.

“The first thing to tell them at competition was 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,” Trisa added.

“It’s really heartbreaking when that happens to them, that’s how I got to officiate.”

While she does not do coaching as much as before, there’s still a lot of official work to do including organising competitions, schedule of events, entries.

She hope to see more swimming tech officials in the future Games.

There are different levels of TO’s which are gold, silver, bronze; before the national federations would nominate officials to the relevant Games provided if they have officiated at two national meets.

Recently, World Aquatics recommend referees according to the names on the list; there’s two otherS from Fiji- Amelia Simpson is on the referees list while Susau Elaisa, is a starter on the list.

“I like to get more young people on, it’s good for them being former swimmers they have a better understanding.

“We get invited to this World championship meets from World aquatics, they have world technical committee – I’m a member on that technical committee,” Trisa said.

“It’s sad; we lack in numbers on pool deck in terms of stroke judge and turn judge.

“Every club has to have volunteers and timekeepers.

“We’ve had several workshops to have clubs to send in their reps. They’re a bit reluctant to step up, because the parents and coaches are up in your face when there is a disqualification.

“People don’t like confrontation but I’ve grown a thicker skin over the years.

“My advise to upcoming and young officials is to never give up, it’s going to get tough but keep moving forward.”

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj