Lisa Forrest launches book at library

Former Olympic swimming champion Lisa Forrest visited Woy Woy and Kincumber libraries on Tuesday, August 12, to launch her new biography "Boycott".

"Boycott" recounts Forrest's experiences of how the 1980 Olympians fought the government, the public, the media and each other in order to fulfil their dreams, and uphold their belief that the Olympic Games is about peace, not politics.

"The swimming star was only 16 years old when she found herself at the centre of one of Australia's most significant sporting and political moments," said Gosford Council's media officer Ms Lisa-Maree Schell.

"After the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan in the last days of 1979, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser asked the Australian Olympic Federation (AOF) to boycott the1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

"The AOF refused and by the time the Australian team marched into the opening ceremony, months of bitter politicking had split the nation."

Press release, 8 Aug 2008 Lisa-Maree Schell, Gosford Council