At SwimmingSA, we’re always looking ahead - finding new ways to improve the sport we love. That’s why, in partnership with the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre (SAALC), we’re continuing to pilot Hawk-Eye technology, a game-changer for officiating in swimming.
This cutting-edge system, developed by Hawk-Eye Innovations and led by Swimming Victoria, played a key role in officiating at Paris 2024. Swimming Victoria has also been testing this technology and is currently using it to officiate. Now, we’re bringing this world-class innovation to South Australia, ensuring fairer, more efficient competition for swimmers at all levels.
What is Hawk-Eye & how will it change swimming?
Hawk-Eye’s SMART (Synchronised Multi Angle Replay Technology) Video Review system is all about improving accuracy in officiating. With high-tech cameras capturing every angle, officials can review key race moments with precision, ensuring a fair result for every swimmer.
Right now, some swimming events require up to 50 technical officials to run smoothly. This technology has the potential to reduce the burden on our volunteers by automating key aspects of officiating, like monitoring turns and finishes.
To ensure we get it right, Swimming SA and SAALC staff recently visited Swimming Victoria and Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre during the 2025 Victorian Open Championships to see firsthand how the system is being used, specifically looking into how it integrates into competition environments, officials communication, how the footage is used for reviews, and how the cameras are installed for maximum effectiveness.
Hawk-Eye in action at SAALC
At SAALC, our current Hawk-Eye setup includes:
- Overhead and side-view cameras feeding into a dedicated review booth
- A four-monitor setup for real-time analysis and replay
- Live camera feeds to ensure no action is missed
And we’re not stopping there! Underwater cameras will be trialled in the coming months, giving us an even clearer view of turns and finishes.
One of the biggest focuses of this pilot is improving how we monitor wall interactions. Our long-term goal is to transition this responsibility to Hawk-Eye technology, which could reduce the need for multiple inspectors of turns and free up our technical officials to focus on other aspects of race management.
What to expect at the SA Age Championships
We’ll be putting Hawk-Eye through its paces during the 2025 South Australian Age Championships, where we’ll also be testing new ways to improve event presentation. This includes integrating Hawk-Eye with 'Sport in the Box' - a powerful production system that takes live race data and sends it directly to videoboards, in-house TV screens, and streaming platforms.
At this week’s Age Championships, you won’t see any major changes from the stands - our inspectors of turns will still be on pool deck. However, a dedicated technical official will be in the Hawk-Eye booth each session to learn the system, help with backup timing, and review any disqualifications with multi-angle footage. We'll also be testing Sport in the Box and our venue event presentation - you may notice some changes to our videoboards during finals sessions, announcing competitors lane-by lane.
What’s next?
With short course season on the horizon, we’re ramping up our testing. This weekend, our referees will be learning more about the system in a presentation from SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Swimming SA staff. We’re excited to be part of this journey, benefitting from the trailblazing work of Swimming Victoria and Hawk-Eye Innovations to bring world-class officiating technology to swimmers. And of course, a huge thank you to SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre for investing in the future of our sport.
Stay tuned - this is just the beginning of something big. 🚀🏊♂️
