The skinny Aboriginal runner had nothing in common with the early teenage couple swimmers.
However, three of the careers of Australia's largest sports were linked forever with the announcement of his presence in the Commonwealth Games.
Cathy Freeman and Kieran Perkins was 16 and unknown to the world's biggest sports when she competed in the 1990 Auckland Games. Susie O'Neill was a year younger.
Freeman won a gold medal as part of the Australia team in 4x100m relay; Perkins, a silver in one event and then become your own, free style 1500, while O'Neill picked up a gold in the 4x100m freestyle .
The trio's road to greatness began in an event known to unearth the next crop of sporting heroes.
Some 20 years after Freeman, Perkins and O'Neill came to the world stage, Australians have a vision of its future sports in New Delhi.
Many head for Australian athletes for the Games 3-14 October in the Indian capital in relative obscurity, some held back.
Among younger Australians planning to make a splash in Delhi is Yolan Kukla swimmer.
Kukla team qualified for the Games, when 14 years and 175 days - a week older than the legendary Ian Thorpe was the first time I made an Australian team.
Kukla will be 15 when racing in New Delhi in the butterfly discipline became famous in Australia by O'Neill.
As Kukla, O'Neill was a 15 year old when his first Commonwealth Games in 1990 and remembers the feeling well.
O'Neill has fond memories of competing in an Australian team that included her skip school teacher, Deanne Bopf.
"I remember a massive case full of new clothes and uniform, it was really exciting back then," says O'Neill.
"I was a little nervous about going away with people not sure ... but the excitement was definitely more.
"There was no pressure, no one expected anything from me, and I remember all the older ... taking care of me and it was just fun.
"When you're young, do not realize it. I was more nervous towards the end of my career then, as they are a sort of unconscious of what it really means when you're young."
Kukla selection Delhi won games with his younger teammates Jayden Hadler and Katie Goldman.
Hadler, 16, is a decorated Queenslander whose talent has been awarded in minor competitions, and 17 years, Goldman has taken the road less traveled in swimming.
The college student, coached by former coach Dennis Grant Hackett Cotterill, was surprised by the cut of 11 seconds of her personal best to win the 800m freestyle at the trials of Delhi.
In track and field, a lot of Australians emerging hope to make a mark in Delhi with some of the biggest names in the game.
Olympic and world champion pole vaulter Steve Hooker, 28, and fencing silver medalist Sally Pearson, 24, aim to build on its success in the Beijing Olympics.
Below them, the next wave of athletes includes pole vaulter Liz Parnov, whose father coaches Alex Hooker.
Vicky's sister Parnov competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, while his aunt, Tatiana Grigorieva, won a silver medal in the pole vault at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000.
Shooter Laetisha Scanlan is another young gun with its sights on gold in New Delhi after recent impressive performances.
The Victoria 20 years old, has established a new record for Australia in the women's trap at the beginning of September - and only one shot world record.
In the boxing ring, Australia is placing its hopes for gold at the Indian 18 years old, medium Damien Hooper.
Hooper, of Dalby, 200 km west of Brisbane, has been considered a special talent for the Australian Institute of Sport boxing assistant coach Don Abnett.
"Damien is a very good chance of a medal, probably our best chance, despite his age," Abnett said.
"Everything is possible with Damien, is very talented and like many of the indigenous fighters have a difficult but unique style."
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