Bill Kirby enjoyed a decade of swimming at the top level of world class competition from the early 1990’s to 2001. In that period Kirby was a successful butterfly swimmer and was a medallist at the Commonwealth Games. Subsequently he featured for Australia in relay swimming. He was a key part of his nation’s prowess at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2001 World long and short course 4 x 200 metres relays and the Pan Pacific Championships in that same year. The highlight of Kirby’s career was undoubtedly his anchor leg in the 4 x 200 meters relay victory by Australia over the United States at the Sydney Olympic Games. In that race the Australian squad broke the existing world record and beat the Americans by some 15 metres in what was an epic swim.
