Kenneth To was once ‘the best swimmer in the world, pound for pound’ – Australia pays tribute to former star
- Record-breaking Hong Kong swimmer was a young prodigy for the Australian national team before injuries
- To sacrificed Olympic dream to help Australia win medals at Commonwealth Games
Hong Kong-born To grew up in Sydney from the age of two and was a world championship silver medallist for Australia. He also won Youth Olympics gold, and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold and silver before switching allegiance to the country of his birth in 2016.
“Shocking news to hear of the passing of my competitor but most of all, friend,” Australian swimmer and three-time Olympic medallist James Magnussen posted in a tribute on Instagram. “We’ve been racing each other and making teams together since we were 16.
“He will remain one of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever stood on the blocks next to. I firmly believe that for a long period he was pound for pound, the best swimmer in the world.
“RIP little guy, you won’t be forgotten.”
To narrowly missed out on earning selection to compete for Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, despite having undergone surgery to remove his appendix just seven weeks before the national trials.