The NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) is mourning the loss of one of Australia’s greatest sports administrators Phil Coles AM, three-time Olympian in canoe sprint and the inaugural Chairman of the Institute.

Involved in the Olympic movement for over 60 years, Phil began his sporting journey in 1960 as a canoe sprint athlete at the Rome Olympic Games, before going on to represent Australia twice more as a competitor in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.

Following his athletic career, Phil held a variety of administrative roles including being appointed to the International Olympic Committee in 1982.  Phil stayed on the Australian Olympic Committee Executive for 38 years and also held a number of roles with other international sporting bodies.

NSWIS Chair, Gary Flowers paid tribute to Phil and his remarkable 20 years of service to NSWIS.

“It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Phil Coles, one of Australia’s most experienced sports administrators, whose dedication to the Institute and its athletes was indisputable,” Gary said.

“A celebrated Olympian with an undeniable passion for improving the sporting opportunities for all, Phil can only be described as a true legend of Australian sport.”

Phil was appointed as Chairman of the Institute upon its inception in 1996 and was integral to the Institute’s success between 1996 – 2015 as its Chair, before retiring from the Board in 2017.

Many of NSWIS’ finest moments came during Phil’s tenure as Chair, including Ian Thorpe becoming Australia’s greatest Olympian, Matthew Mitcham’s record breaking dive and gold medal victory at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Torah Bright claiming Winter Olympic gold in Vancouver in 2010 and Jacqueline Freney winning eight gold medals from eight events at the London 2012 Paralympics.

While Phil’s days as an athlete were spent on the water, his career spanned a range of sports. Phil became a member of the Order of Australia in 1983 for service to sport, and among other honorary positions, he was the Secretary General of the International Triathlon Federation from 1994 to 1999, and in 2008 was appointed Vice President of the World Taekwondo Federation.

“There is no denying that as Chair of NSWIS Phil maintained a deep connection with sport across the country, particularly within NSW,” Gary Flowers said.

“He will be fondly remembered for his devotion to the Institute, truly embodying our vision of becoming world’s best. Our thoughts are with Patricia and his family”.

Phil Coles’ career:

  • Three-times Olympian: Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 & Mexico 1968
  • Chef de Mission: Moscow 1980
  • Awarded Order of Australia: 1983
  • Inaugural NSWIS Chair: 1996 – 2014
  • NSWIS Board Member: 1996 – 2017
  • IOC Member 1982-2011
  • IOC Honorary Member 2012
  • Awarded Olympic Order 2000
  • AOF (now AOC) Executive from 1973-2011
  • AOF Secretary General 1985-1993
  • AOC Life Member
  • ONOC Executive Board from 1981
  • Australian Sports Commission Board Member 1984-1987
  • National Canoe champion 25 times
  • Sport Australia Hall of Fame 1993
  • Paddle Australia Hall of Fame
  • Australian Sports Medal 2000
  • Vice President SOCOG 1993-1999

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