Minister for Sport Mark Arbib today offered his condolences to the family and friends of Australian sports scientist and sports administrator Frank Pyke who has lost his battle with illness.

Minister Arbib paid tribute to the renowned and respected figure who made a wide ranging and significant impact to Australian sport.

A gifted athlete in his youth, Mr Pyke went on to become a state Australian rules footballer with the Perth Football Club, mainly as a ruck rover, and also opened the attack for Perth in first grade pennant cricket before making his mark as a sports scientist, academic and administrator.

“Frank’s career and achievements speak for themselves and the world is a poorer place for his loss,” Senator Arbib said.

“Perhaps one of Frank’s greatest highlights as a sports scientist came when he supervised the rehabilitation of Dennis Lillee after he suffered a career-threatening back injury, turning him into one of the world’s greatest bowlers.

“Mr Pyke was also a member of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame, a fitting honour.”

Mr Pyke was the first Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) and managed its development into a leading state based institute of sport in Australia from its formation in 1990 to his retirement in 2006.

Before taking up the position at the VIS, Mr Pyke taught at several Universities in North America and Australia and was Professor of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland.

“Frank’s role as the first Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) led the way forward for that state institute and he truly left his mark within sports administration,” Minister Arbib said.

“Frank developed the Athlete Career and Education (ACE) program which is the current national program for elite athletes and has been adopted by a number of international sports institutes.

“On behalf of the Australian Government I offer his family my sincere condolences and recognise Frank Pyke for his momentous contribution to Australian sport.”