Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Congratulations to Stewart McSweyn, the 'King of King Island' and Tasmanian Olympic hero. McSweyn took on the best of the best in the final of the men's 1,500 metres in Tokyo last week. He finished seventh, in a time that would have won any other 1,500-metre final.

Stewart McSweyn's journey is an inspiration to every kid living in a regional or remote community who dares to dream big. King Island is just a small island in the middle of Bass Strait, with a population of around 1,600. It's world renowned for many things: cheese, dairy, beef, seafood and golf courses. But it's isolated, and it has limited opportunities for aspiring world athletes. King Island punches well above its weight in so many ways, and so too does Stewart McSweyn. Like all inspirational athletes, he showed the world that it's not about what you do, it's how you do it. That's a lesson and a shining example to everyone chasing their dreams.

Stewart McSweyn is the best middle-distance runner in Australia. His pathway has not been typical; it's a story of sacrifice, of dogged determination and of remaining true to who he is—just a kid from a small island in the middle of Bass Strait. Congratulations to all our Tasmanian Olympic heroes, who represented our state with such distinction, and I look forward to a great outcome from our Paralympic team as they start their quest on 23 August.

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