Lynch, Jim

BORN MARCH 16TH 1948 in Sydney Australia, he first skated there at Bondi ice rink when he was 12 years-old and started ice hockey and speed skating at the Prince Alfred Park rink in Sydney in 1962. "It was the best place and time of my life. I miss it so". He played club ice hockey for St George (later Hotspurs) in New South Wales until 1975 and represented his state four times between 1969 and 1972, winning two Goodall Cups in 1969 and 1970. He later played for the Macquarie Bears.

His speed skating career peaked with victory in the 1978 world short-track speed skating championship, but perhaps his greatest sporting achievement was advancing Australian speed skating to the world stage. He traveled extensively in search of competition in Europe and North America during the 1970s, setting records in both the UK and the US.

New South Wales champion in 1964 while still the Australian junior champion, he dominated Australian ice racing, winning every subsequent New South Wales title until 1979, then again in 1984 and 1985. He was Australian champion in 1965, then from 1969 until 1976, and again in 1978 — 10 years — a record which has never been beaten. An Australian representative at the Sapporo Winter Olympics in 1972, he was 41st and 49th in the 500m and 1500m events, respectively. His Personal Bests were: 500 – 43.1 (1973); 1000 – 1:30.83 (1972); 1500 – 2:24.27 (1972); 5000 – 9:28.33 (1972).

That same year he established a British record over 400m and in 1974 he became the North American 400m champion and record holder, then the inaugural recognised Short Track Speed Skating World Champion in Solihull, UK. His 1978 world short-track title was followed by a 500m world championship in 1979. He was Australian veteran champion in 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1991. Then 33 years after he had first begun he set personal best times for all distances at the 1995 Australian Championships.

In 2008, he set a new world mark in the 60–69 years age group category at the Australian Short Track Championships held in Sydney. He skated a 50.494s 500m semi-final time to better the mark of Gary Link who's record of 52.81s had held since 2005. He was inducted to the Australian Ice Racing Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame for speed skating on 11 December 1991.