Loudy Wiggins

Who is Loudy Wiggins?

Loudy Wiggins is an Palestinian-born Australian diver.

She was born in Haifa, Israel and is of a Palestinian background. She was born to Butros and Afaf Tourky. They came to Australia when Loudy was three. Loudy has commented, "I will always have a bond with Palestine. My life is here but it’s in the back of my mind".

Wiggins said she thinks of herself as 100 per cent Australian, although her family stays close to relatives in the Middle East. "All of my immediate family is in Australia, and everyone else back home is safe - we're in contact with them. We keep them updated with my results."

Wiggins was a gymnast at the Australian Institute of Sport, then at age 12 began diving at the suggestion of her physiotherapist.

Wiggins finished 19th in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She won bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics 10m synchronised platform, becoming the first Australian to win an Olympic medal in diving since Dick Eve in 1924. She and Rebecca Gilmore were also the first Australian female Olympic diving medalists in the 2000 games.

She won bronze in the FINA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka in 2001. She was named Female Australian Diver of the Year for 2001..