The CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, Simon Hollingsworth, has paid tribute to Dr John Cheffers, the second Director of the Australian Institute of Sport, who passed away recently.

Dr Cheffers succeeded Don Talbot as AIS Director in 1984 and left the role in 1986. Dr Cheffers had a marked impact on the AIS and the national high performance sport system during his time in Canberra.

“John was not just an excellent athlete and coach, he clearly was a student of sport and spent his life dedicated to helping others understand the value of sport and develop a passion for it,” Mr Hollingsworth said.

“He played Australian football for Carlton in the then VFL and was also involved with Hawthorn. From there he embarked overseas where he coached athletics in Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea.

"His time at the AIS was bookended by highly successful stints as an academic in the United States.

“Our sympathy goes out to John’s wife Margaret and their children.”