Forbes Carlile
A pioneering Australian coach who applied science to swimming, then turned athlete to become a unique Olympian in two different sports.
1921–2016 (age 95)·Australian Olympic swimming coach·Birthday: June 3·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Forbes Carlile was a revolutionary figure who dragged competitive swimming into the modern age. In post-war Australia, he became the nation's first full-time swimming coach, applying physiological research—like the use of heart-rate monitoring—to training in a way that was then radical. His methods produced champions, including Shane Gould, and fundamentally changed how swimmers prepared. In a twist of personal ambition, Carlile didn't just coach from the deck. In 1952, he stepped onto the Olympic stage himself as Australia's first modern pentathlete, achieving a unique double that no one has matched: competing after having been an Olympic coach. His career was a blend of rigorous science, practical innovation, and a deep, lifelong passion for sport. He remained a vocal and respected analyst, his legacy etched in both the record books and the training methodologies of pools worldwide.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Forbes was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Forbes Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Forbes's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 80
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2016Died at 95
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Was Australia's first post-World War II Olympic swimming coach, pioneering scientific training methods.
- Remains the only person to have both coached an Olympic team and later competed as an Olympian.
- Coached multiple champions, including Shane Gould during her record-breaking career in the early 1970s.
- Introduced the use of heart-rate monitors and interval training to competitive swimming.
Did You Know?
He competed in the modern pentathlon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, finishing 33rd.
He authored the influential book 'Forbes Carlile on Swimming,' a seminal text on coaching.
He was a fierce critic of the over-training of young swimmers, often clashing with sporting authorities.
He and his wife, Ursula, ran a famous swimming school in Sydney for decades.
“The stopwatch never lies, but you must know how to ask it.”
