Duncan Armstrong went down in Australian Olympic history with one of the great come-from-behind victories in the 200m freestyle at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Armstrong passed US superfish Matt Biondi in the final 25m to cement himself as an Olympic champion. (en.wikipedia.org)
Armstrong grew up in Rockhampton, Queensland. At the age of 14, his family moved to Brisbane to allow him to train with the elite squad of coach Lawrie Lawrence. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Lawrence)
It was in this squad that Armstrong developed the mental toughness and technical skills needed to make the national squad for first the Commonwealth Games, then the Olympics. "It was always about performing on the day. Each session gave us an opportunity to perform at our best, and Lawrie was the master at this."
Since his retirement, Armstrong has continued to perform at his best, with sports commentary in the media, as well as public and corporate speaking.
Despite the greatness of Olympic victory, Armstrong points to a relationship with Jesus as the greatest thing that has happened to him.
The key, he explains, is the love of God. A favourite passage is, 'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list.
But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." Matthew 22:37
Armstrong's event, the men's 200m freestyle, will take place Monday 30th July at the new Games Aquatics Centre.
