It’s hard to believe that Old Boy Zac Stubblety-Cook (2017) has gone from being a child scared of the water to Olympic Champion. Those who knew him at school have long been aware of Zac’s potential to perform at the highest level. When he won an Olympic Gold Medal for the Men’s 200m Breaststroke, Zac realised a childhood dream and instantly became a household name across the world. As a champion swimmer at Churchie, not even the removal of a benign golf ball sized tumour prevented him from winning the GPS age level breaststroke events for each of six years at school. In fact, it made him even hungrier for success.

Going into the Olympics, Zac had demonstrated that he was on track for something special. In qualification at the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials, he broke the Commonwealth record for the 200m Breaststroke and in doing so recorded the second fastest time ever for this event. With his trademark measured start and barnstorming final lap, every Churchie student was cheering him on when he touched the wall in an Olympic record time of 2:06.38. Channel 7 Brisbane were there to record a lecture theatre full of year eight Churchie students who erupted in celebration and performed a rousing school war cry at the conclusion of his event.

Headmaster Dr Alan Campbell says: “Zac is a humble, hardworking young man who is most deserving of his success, and we are proud to call him a Churchie Old Boy.” Churchie’s founding Headmaster, Canon Morris would also have been immensely proud. On the sidelines of sporting fields he would always be heard calling to the boys: “Finish Hard”. Zac’s trademark race plan epitomises these words.

Not content to settle for one Olympic (Gold) medal, Zac also won Bronze medal as a member of the Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay.

Congratulations Zac!

It was awesome to hear that strong Old Boy connections were in play in Tokyo, with fellow Old Boy Olympians John Millman (2006) and Nick Malouf (2010) organising to sit together in the Australia Olympic Coffee shop to watch Zac win Gold. Great Stuff!