11 Oct 2009

Donna Procter was a proven all-rounder in the Australian Institute of Sport swimming program from 1987 to 1990. She achieved significant success competing at international level in the 400-metre individual medley and the 400 and 800-metre freestyle, and was ranked in the top-ten in the world for these events.

Donna reached the final of the 400-metre individual medley at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. She also won the bronze medal in the 400-metre individual medley at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. Donna set a Commonwealth and Australian record in the 400-metre individual medley and a Commonwealth record in the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay.

She won one silver and five bronze medals at four consecutive Pan Pacific Swimming Championships from 1985 to 1991. She has been named in the AIS Swimming Hall of Fame.

At the end of her AIS scholarship in 1990 Donna returned home to Newcastle, switching from competitive swimming to coaching. She took on the role as head coach at Arnold’s Swim Centre. This led to setting up a swimming program at Mingara on the Central Coast, where she helped to coach Ky Hurst to a silver medal in the five-kilometre open water event at 1997 FINA World Swimming Championships.

Donna later became head coach and aquatics manager at The Forum in Newcastle, a swimming and fitness centre based at the University of Newcastle. In her current role, Donna is swimming centre services coordinator at Newcastle City Council.

Donna and her partner Brett McGovern live in Newcastle and have a two-year-old son, Ben.