Jonathan SIEBEN

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 17-year-old Jon Sieben caused one of the biggest upsets by defeating two world record holders, West German Michael Groß and American Pablo Morales, in the 200 butterfly. The final started as expected as Groß went out fast, trailed early by Rafael Vidal. Morales made his move at 100 metres. Sieben was out in lane six, unnoticed by the crowd and the other swimmers, but by the final turn moved closer to the leaders. In the last 25 metres it was very close, with four swimmers coming to the wall almost together, but the gold went to Sieben with a world record of 1:57.04. He also won bronze as a member of Australian medley relay team at the 1984 Olympics.

Sieben made his international début at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, where he won bronze in the 200 butterfly and gold as a member of Australia’s medley relay team. After the 1984 Olympics, he next competed at the 1985 Universiade, again beating the favored Groß for gold in the 100 fly, but the rest of Sieben’s career was hampered by shoulder injuries. He also won 100 butterfly silvers at the 1985 and 1987 Pan Pacific Games, medley relay silver at the 1985 Pan Pacific Games, and medley relay bronzes at the 1987 and 1991 Pan Pacific Games. He ended his swimming career after reaching only the B-final of the 100 fly at the 1992 Olympics. Sieben graduated from the University of Alabama with a business management degree and later ran The Northern Beaches Leisure Centre in Townsville, Queensland.