Michael Toomey

Michael Toomey swam for New Zealand at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, then went on to build an extremely successful law career.

Toomey, born in Dunedin in 1951, went to St Paul’s High School and began training under the eye of swim coach Duncan Laing at Moana Pool.

He swam in the 100m butterfly in Christchurch, but his heat time of 60.61s was not good enough for him to advance. He also swam for New Zealand in the 4 x 100m medley relay. The New Zealanders, Phil Thorogood, Brent Lewis, Toomey and Brett Naylor, swam 4min 14.08s for 6th place.

Toomey gave away top-level competition at about the time he graduated from Otago University with a law degree and set about establishing his career.

He practised successfully in Dunedin for many years but moved to Christchurch, and eventually formed Woodward Toomey solicitors. In 2008, the firm was dissolved and Toomey became a partner in Young Hunter. He remained a partner there until he retired in 2018 and became a consultant.

Toomey certainly passed on his swimming genes to he and his wife Liz’s three children.

All three, Georgina, Julia and Dominic, represented New Zealand at swimming, Georgina at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. They also all represented New Zealand at surf lifesaving.

Dominic, who followed his father into law, became a board member of Swimming New Zealand.