Champion James Tomkins OAM is a triple Olympic gold medallist, two of those as part of the much loved Oarsome Foursome.

Their win in the Men’s Four at the Barcelona Olympics of 1992, made rowing cool and their defence in 1996 cemented their legacy as legends of Australian sport.

For Tomkins, there was more glory ahead, bronze in the Men’s Pair, against insurmountable odds in Sydney 2000. And four years later, a third Olympic gold in combination with long-time offsider Drew Ginn in the Pair.

He helped inspire a generation of rowers, many of whom will be seeking to emulate his dominance in the Regatta at the Paris games.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been some almighty performances by Australian athletes, but the win by Kieren in the 1500m freestyle at Atlanta may be the greatest.

In the first form slump of his career, Perkins was last to be selected on the team when he laboured home in second behind Daniel Kowalski to qualify for the 1500m.

In Atlanta, the doom and gloom failed to lift but he made the final by 0.23 seconds.

What happened hext, is the stuff of legend.

On Road To Paris, the inside story of Kieran Perkins' spine chilling olympic defence, the fallout to his greatest triumph and will he go on to Sydney?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 1982 and a Brisbane dad carries his nine-year-old son through the doors of an Indooroopilly indoor pool.

The boy has walked through a glass door, his body shredded, he can’t walk and needs 85 stitches to sew him back together.

Father and son meet a swim coach called John Carew.

None of them knew it, but it was an encounter that changed the course of Australian sports history.

The boy’s name, Kieren Perkins.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.