Kenrick John Monk (born 1 January 1988 in Blacktown) is an Australian swimmer who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as well as at an international level through the World and Pan-Pacific Championships and the Commonwealth Games.^[1] Outside of the pool, Monk gained attention in 2011 after he falsely claimed to have been involved in a deliberate hit-and-run accident.

Early life[link]

Born in 1988 in Blacktown, New South Wales, Monk attended Quakers Hill High School. He started swimming at the age of four while in Blacktown, and at 14 he started training with coach Tony Shaw, who also trained Grant Brits.^[1][2]

Swimming career[link]

This section is incomplete. Please help to improve the article, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (January 2012)

Monk competed in his first Commonwealth Games in 2006, after being asked to fill in for Ian Thorpe. He finished seventh in the 100m freestyle event, and ninth in the 200m. As a member of the Australian men's relay team, he won gold in the 4x100m medley (as a heat swimmer) and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle.^[3] Later that year he competed in the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, finishing sixth in the 200m freestyle, and taking the bronze medal in the 4x100m and 4x200m men's freestyle relay events.^[3]

Monk came fourth in the 200m freestyle at his first World Aquatics Championship in 2007,^[4] an achievement that he regarded as one of his best.^[1] He was part of the Australian team that won a silver medal in the corresponding relay event.^[5]

In 2008, Monk won two gold medals at the FINA Short Course World Championships in the 200m freestyle individual competition and the 4x200m men's freestyle relay.^[3] This led to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, although there he was less successful, finishing 22nd in the 200m freestyle event.^[3]

After the disappointment of the Beijing Olympics, Monk announced that he was moving to Brisbane to train with Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Stephanie Rice under coach Michael Bohl.^[6] Subsequently he finished third in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2009 World Aquatics Championship and fifth in the individual 200m freestyle.^[3] His second Commonwealth Games was the following year, in 2010, where Monk won silver in the individual 200m freestyle and gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.^[3]

Accident and police investigation[link]

In September 2011, Monk was involved in an accident that put his 2011/2012 season in doubt, in which he fractured his elbow in two places during the leadup to the 2012 Olympic Games.^[7] Monk claimed to have been deliberatly hit by a car while riding his bike, and a police investigation was launched.^[7] However, after a witness emerged who contradicted Monk's statement, it was revealed that he had not been involved in a hit-and-run, but had instead fallen off his skateboard and lied about the cause of the accident. Monk stated that his fabrication was to hide the true cause, as he was "not supposed to be engaging in dangerous or high impact sports".^[8]

As a result of making a false statement to police, Monk faced a possible $10,000 fine, three-year jail term and disciplinary action from Swimming Australia.^[9][10] In late November, 2011, the Queensland Police Service announced that they would not be pursuing charges, but he was fined by Swimming Australia and received a letter of reprimand from the Queenland police. In response, the president of the Queensland Police Union spoke out against the decision, arguing against Swimming Australia's defence of Monk, and stated that "The public rightly expect that no one should deliberately waste the time of police, whether they be wannabe B-grade celebrity athletes like this modern-day 'boy who cried wolf', Kenrick Monk, or just regular people."^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• BEST sports - Profile
• Kenrick Monk at Swimming Australia

Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef (right) being interviewed in March, 2010
Birth name	Shaun Patrick Micallef
Born	(1962-07-18) 18 July 1962 (age 49) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Medium	Television, radio, books, internet
Nationality	Australian
Years active	1987-present
Genres	Sketch comedy, surrealism, dadaism
Subject(s)	Humour
Influences	The Goons,[1] Peter Sellers, Marx Brothers,[2] S. J. Perelman, James Thurber, Spike Milligan,[3] Barry Humphries, Frank Muir,[4] Monty Python,[5] Woody Allen
Influenced	Sammy J[6]
Spouse	Leandra (1988-present) 3 children
Notable works and roles	The Micallef P(r)ogram(me) Welcher & Welcher Micallef Tonight Newstopia Thank God You're Here (2006-2007) Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation

Shaun Patrick Micallef (born 18 July 1962) is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993. He first gained recognition as a cast member of the sketch comedy show Full Frontal, which in turn led to a number of television roles including his own sketch show, The Micallef P(r)ogram(me), the sitcom Welcher & Welcher and the variety show Micallef Tonight. He also fronted the satirical news comedy series Newstopia on SBS and currently hosts the game show Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation on Network Ten.

In addition to his television work Micallef has appeared on stage, most notably in the Australian production of Boeing Boeing, and radio as the co-host of Melbourne station Vega 91.5 FM's morning program. He is also a published author; his book Smithereens was released in 2004, and re-released in January 2011. His other book, a novella by the name of Preincarnate, was released in 2010.

Personal life[link]

Micallef was born in Adelaide, South Australia and is of Maltese and Irish descent.^[1] His father worked for a company that sold parts for Volvos and his mother was employed at the Adelaide Bank.^[7] As a child he lived in Clovelly Park and attended St Bernadette's School in St. Marys then St Joseph’s Catholic School in Mitchell Park (now Sacred Heart College Middle School) before moving on to Sacred Heart Senior College where he was the College Captain.^[8] He studied law at the University of Adelaide, where he was frequently involved in comedy revues, often involving Francis Greenslade and Gary McCaffrie, with whom he continues to work.^[9] He was a practising solicitor for ten years in the field of insurance law before making the decision to move to Melbourne and pursue a full-time career in comedy in 1993.^[7] He currently lives in Williamstown, Victoria with his wife Leandra (whom he married in 1988) and their three sons.^[1][10] He relates the story that while working as a solicitor, he talked so much about making a career change and becoming a comedian that his wife gave him an ultimatum. She circled a date in the near future on a calendar and told Shaun to quit his job and become a comedian by that date, or never talk about it again.

Career[link]

Early theatre[link]

In 1972, having three younger sisters taking ballet classes, ten year old Micallef was often asked to help out when a dance routine required a boy. The following year he auditioned for the Bunyip Children's Theatre and over the next four years participated in plays that they performed in the Scott Theatre during school holidays. In 1976 he doubled for Humphrey B. Bear for personal appearances.

Television and film[link]

Following early TV appearances on Theatre Sports (1987) and The Big Gig (1989), in early 1993 Micallef was offered a job writing for the Jimeoin show which was soon followed by an offer to also write for the sketch comedy show Full Frontal where six months later he took on the role as co-producer with Gary McCaffrie. In 1994, Micallef became a full time cast member of Full Frontal, where he became well known for characters such as Milo Kerrigan, Nobby Doldrums and a send-up of Italian male model Fabio. Micallef recalls that the show was a good introduction to television comedy because, with an ensemble cast, its success did not hinge on his performance and he had more freedom to make and learn from mistakes. However, he was frustrated with the lack of control he had over his work in the series as well as the repetition of characters and gags.^[7]

Micallef's role on Full Frontal led to a 1996 special Shaun Micallef's World Around Him and three seasons of the two-time Logie Award-winning ABC series The Micallef Program (1998–2001), which he co-wrote and produced with long-time writing partner Gary McCaffrie.^[11] Since the series' end he has created and starred in two short-lived television series, the sitcom Welcher & Welcher (2003) and the variety show Micallef Tonight (2003),^[12] and devised a series of telemovies, BlackJack (2003–present).^[13]

He has also had acting roles on the television series SeaChange (2000), Through My Eyes (2004) and "Offspring" (2010), and supporting roles in the films Bad Eggs (2003), The Honourable Wally Norman (2003), The Extra (2005), Aquamarine (2006), and The King (2007). In 2006, Micallef was a recurring guest on the Network Ten Improvisational theatre show Thank God You're Here.

In 2007, along with partners McCaffrie and Michael Ward, Micallef developed the satirical comedy program Newstopia, which he hosted. The show began airing 10 October 2007 on SBS, and in August 2008 it was announced that a third series had been commissioned.^[14] In 2009, Micallef joined the Ten Network and hosted "Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation", which has been a hit on Australian television screens.

In 2012 he began hosting ABC1's Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell.^[15]

Other work[link]

In September 2005, Micallef began hosting the breakfast show on Melbourne radio station Vega 91.5 FM, Shaun, Beverley and Denise, with comedian Denise Scott and television presenter Beverley O'Connor. In July 2006, comedian Dave O'Neil took over as host and the show was renamed Dave and Denise with Shaun Micallef. Micallef left the network on 23 November 2007.^[16]

He has also released a book, Smithereens, which was published in 2004 and contains a collection of prose, poetry and plays. Micallef describes it as a collection of "all sorts of bits and pieces I have written".^[3][12]

Mainstream popularity[link]

With Micallef's 2009 move to the Ten Network's Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, a sudden and unprecedented rise in his popularity within the Australian mainstream has been observed.^[17] His contract with the program marks his first long-term position in a commercial network and has raised his profile in commercial television. The extent of this has been demonstrated with celebrity appearances on Rove McManus' Rove^[18] and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?,^[19] and on 9am with David & Kim.^[20] In 2010, he was voted most popular presenter at the Annual Logie Awards.^[20]

List of works[link]

Films[link]

• The King (2007) - Colin Bednall
• Aquamarine (2006) - Storm Banks
• The Extra (2005) - Paul Ridley
• Bad Eggs (2003) - Premier Cray
• The Honourable Wally Norman (2003) - Ken Oats
• The 13th House (2003) - Sir
• Silly Billy Don't Touch That! (Unknown)

Television[link]

• Mad as Hell (2012) - Host
• Mollusks (2011) - Easty (voice)
• The Bazura Project's Guide To Sinema (2011) - MK-Ultra (voice)
• Laid (2011–present) - G-Bomb
• A Quiet Word With ... (2011) - Himself (guest)
• Offspring (2010) - Lachlan
• Shaun Micallef's New Year's Rave - Host
• Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
• Chaser's War on Everything (2009) - Himself (guest in the Rudd song sketch)
• Rove (2009) - Himself (guest)
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2009) - Host
• Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation (2009–present) - Host
• Good News Week (2009) - Himself (Guest)
• Spicks and Specks (2008) - Himself (guest)
• Newstopia (2007–2008) - Himself
• Dogstar (2007) - Narrator
• Thank God You're Here (2006–2007) - Various (semi-regular guest)
• The Shambles (2006) - (guest cameo)
• Through My Eyes (2005) - Jack Winneke
• BlackJack (2003–2007) (writer)
• Micallef Tonight (2003) - Himself (also writer)
• Welcher & Welcher (2003) - Quentin Welcher (also writer/producer)
• SeaChange (2000) - Warwick Munro
• The Micallef Program (1998–2001) - Various (also writer/producer)
• Shaun Micallef's World Around Him (1996) - Various (also writer/producer)
• The Glynn Nicholas Show (1996) (writer)
• Full Frontal (1994–1997) - Various (also writer/producer)
• Jimeoin (1994) - Various (also writer)
• The Big Gig (1989) (writer)

Theatre[link]

• Boeing Boeing (2008) - Bernard
• Good Evening - Sketches from Dudley Moore and Peter Cook (2010)

Radio shows[link]

• Dave and Denise with Shaun Micallef on Vega 91.5 FM (2005–2007)
• Hamish & Andy on Fox FM (a guest twice)
• Pete and Myf (with Newstopia writer Richard Marsland on Triple M (guest two times)
• Get This appeared on the final show in the first hour

Books[link]

• Preincarnate (2010)
• Smithereens (2004)

Music[link]

• His Generation (2009)

Awards[link]

• 2008: Won Aria Award Best Comedy Release - The Expurgated Micallef Tonight: The Very Best of Shaun Micallef's Short-Lived but Brilliant Tonight Show^[21]
• 2010: Won Most Popular Presenter and nominated for the Gold Logie at the Logie Awards for his role on Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Unofficial Shaun Micallef Fansite
• Shaun Micallef at the Internet Movie Database
• Unofficial Shaun Micallef Fansite

Nick D'Arcy

Personal information
Full name	Nicholas James D'Arcy
Nationality	Australia
Born	(1987-07-23) 23 July 1987 (age 24) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	80 kg (180 lb; 13 st)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Stroke(s)	Butterfly
Medal record Pan Pacific Championships Silver 2010 Irvine 200 m butterfly

Nicholas James D'Arcy^[1] (born 23 July 1987, in Brisbane, Australia)^[2] is a national-record holding butterfly swimmer from Australia. He was removed from Australia's 2008 Olympic team due to a violent altercation that happened shortly after the Australian Olympic Trials.^[3][4] He was also removed from Australia's team to the 2009 World Championships after being convicted for the same incident.^[5][6][7]

Career[link]

At the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, D'Arcy competed in the 200 m butterfly, where he came 14th in the heats in a time of 1 min 57.88 s, scraping into the semifinals by 0.09 s. He improved his time to 1 min 57.15 s to finish 12th, missing the final by 0.68 s.

The 2008 Australian Swimming Championships held in March in Sydney were used to select the Australian swimming team for the Beijing Olympics. D'Arcy broke the Australian record for the 200 m butterfly in the semifinals, before setting a new Commonwealth record of 1 m 55.10 s in the final. The victory earned D'Arcy selection for the Olympics and was the tenth fastest time ever recorded in the event.

The 2009 Australian Swimming Championships held in March in Sydney, which are used to select the Australian swimming team for the 2009 World Championships, D'Arcy broke his own Australian Record in the 200 m butterfly in the final, winning in 1:54.46.^[8][9]

In March 2010, he qualified for Australia's teams to the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships.^[10] He came second at the Pan Pacific Championships behind Michael Phelps. D'Arcy was expected to take home the gold medal in the 200 m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games because his fastest time for the year was more than two seconds faster than any of the other entrants, but he failed to qualify for the final after a slow heat.

On 20 June 2011, D'Arcy won the 200m Butterfly at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix, beating 14-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps in a time of 1 m 55.39 s. D’Arcy, who trailed Phelps for practically the entire race before pipping him at the final touch.

Assault Charges[link]

On 31 March 2008, D'Arcy was charged with assault after a brawl with former Commonwealth Games triple gold medalist Simon Cowley on the night of D'Arcy's naming in the Australian Olympic team.^[11] He was later charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm. On 3 April 2008, a second athlete, Tim Peach, came forward claiming he was also assaulted by D'Arcy.^[12] D'Arcy was granted conditional bail to appear in court on 21 April 2008. He pled guilty to one charge of recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm, the victim suffered fractures to his jaw, eye socket, hard palate, cheek bone and nose.^[13]

On 18 April, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) dropped D'Arcy from its 2008 Olympic team, claiming that the swimmer had brought the team into disrepute.^[14] D'Arcy subsequently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which confirmed the AOC's decision. However, CAS also found that the decision to expel D'Arcy should not have been made solely by the President of the AOC John Coates, but instead by the entire AOC Board.^[15] The AOC Board subsequently unanimously decided to withdraw D'Arcy's membership from the team on 11 June 2008.^[16]

D'Arcy appealed the AOC Board's decision to CAS, which rejected this appeal on 16 June 2008.^[17]

In March 2009, D'Arcy received a jail sentence of 14 months and 12 days, suspended on condition of good behavior.^[18] On 6 April 2009, he was dropped from Australia's team to the 2009 World Championships by Swimming Australia.^[19]

Former Australian swimming captain Grant Hackett supported D'Arcy's return to swimming once his ban was served.^[20][21]

On 27 June 2011 Cowley commenced proceedings in the NSW District Court to sue D'Arcy for damages arising from the altercation with D'Arcy.^[22]

In December 2011, after Cowley had been awarded $180,000 in damages, D'Arcy declared himself bankrupt, raising the prospect that he might not be able to represent Australia at the London Olympics in 2012.^[23]

Failed drug test and doping charges[link]

D'Arcy underwent an out-of-competition test in March 2010 and was informed of his positive result in April 2010, he tested positive for the banned substance formoterol. He is currently^[when?] fighting to stave off a doping ban after paperwork allowing him to take an asthma medication "went missing".^[24]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nick D'Arcy at Swimming Australia

• Official Site of the 2008 Australian Olympic Team: Athletes: The Team: Nick D'arcy
• QAS - Queensland Academy of Sport