RPAYC Sailor Jim Colley & Shaun Connor Honoured with Olympic Plaque on Manly Esplanade
It was a proud moment for the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) community this week as Olympic sailors Jim Colley and Shaun Connor were formally honoured with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on Manly’s Esplanade.
Jim Colley and Shaun, who represented Australia in Sailing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, were one of nine Northern Beaches athletes recognised through the Manly Pathway of Olympians and Paralympians, an initiative celebrating local residents who have competed on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Set in a prominent position along the iconic Manly foreshore, the new plaques serve as a lasting tribute to the dedication, resilience and excellence required to compete at an Olympic level. For RPAYC, Jim and Shaun’s recognition reflects not only their individual achievements0. but also the Club’s long-standing commitment to high-performance sailing and athlete development.
Jim was honoured alongside fellow Paris 2024 sailor Shaun Connor and an accomplished group of Olympians spanning multiple sports and eras, including swimming, judo, rugby sevens, softball, rowing, canoe slalom and winter sports.
They now join an esteemed group of almost 100 Northern Beaches Olympians and Paralympians already recognised along the pathway, including sporting icons such as Andrew “Boy” Charlton, Zali Steggall, Ben Tudhope and Jo Bridgen-Jones.
Established in 2000 to acknowledge residents of the former Manly area, the Manly Pathway of Olympians and Paralympians has since expanded to celebrate eligible athletes from across the Northern Beaches who have represented Australia at either Summer or Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by dignitaries, family members, friends and local community representatives, reflecting the strong community pride in the achievements of its elite athletes.
RPAYC congratulates Jim Colley on this significant honour and celebrates his contribution to Australian sailing and the Club’s proud Olympic legacy.
The nine new inductees honoured were:
- Grant Brits – Swimming, Beijing 2008
- Brian Dalton – Judo, Tokyo 1964
- Chloe Dalton – Rugby 7s, Rio De Janeiro 2016
- Rachel Lack – Softball, Tokyo 2020
- Jim Colley (RPAYC) – Sailing, Paris 2024
- Shaun Connor (RPAYC) – Sailing, Paris 2024
- Julia Bell – Rowing, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004
- Robin Bell – Canoe Slalom, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008
- Emma Lincoln-Smith – Skeleton, Vancouver 2010
The new plaques are proudly supported by the NSW Government in partnership with Council.