A 25m indoor pool at Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre will be named in honour of locals John Devitt and Cecil Healy for their tremendous achievements representing Australia in swimming.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said the indoor pool would be named at an official ceremony at the aquatic centre on 22 February.

“The John Devitt Cecil Healy 25m Indoor Pool is testament to the achievements of two of our finest swimming champions.

“We’re delighted that this pool will help young local swimmers develop their talents and achieve their sporting dreams.

“The Northern Beaches has produced many talented swimmers and we’re proud to honour those who have inspired our current athletes.

“I would also like to thank Jean Hay AM former Mayor of Manly who drove the project on behalf of John Devitt to have the pool co-named,” Mayor Regan said.

Cecil Healy (1882-1918): Winning Olympic gold and silver medals at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and a bronze in the 1906 Intercalated Games, Cecil was active in lifesaving at Manly Beach before joining the Australian Imperial Force. He was killed in action on the Somme battlefront.

John Thomas Devitt AM (1937-): John had an outstanding swimming career that spanned 13 years. In that time he won two gold, a silver, and a bronze medal in Olympic competition, three Commonwealth Games gold medals and broke 14 world records (four individual). John trained at Manly Swim Club from 1947 and is still a member today.