He’s a familiar voice to thousands of athletes and spectators over the years at top Australian Athletics and Oceania Championship meets, as the official ceremonies manager and announcer.
The man behind the microphone is Tasmanian Jarrod Gibson, whose dulcet tones have become a signature and much-loved part of the medal ceremonies.
Gibson is just one of hundreds of tireless volunteer officials who work around the country all year long at different athletic meets, and the sport couldn’t run without them.
This week is National Volunteer Week, as over 100 officials from Australia and the Pacific gather in Darwin for the Oceania Championships.
In between presenting delighted athletes medals in Darwin, Gibson told Australian Athletics he kind of fell into commentating and announcing on the track.
He was in the air force and worked as a police officer in Hobart and has always had a lifelong love of athletics.
“I actually hated public speaking when I was growing up and then when I was about twenty five, I had a few beers I think one day and I stepped behind a microphone and that kind of gave me the confidence I needed,” he laughed.
“From then on, I got more confident and it went from there.
“I love the challenge of it, the diversity of it and working with so many great people.”
Gibson is sometimes the first friendly face our top athletes see when they win a medal, and over the years he has enjoyed seeing the careers of our athletes progress.
He has the perfect voice for radio, but he has had no formal training and has learnt on the job.
Gibson prides himself on getting the pronunciation of names right.
“I do read the names over but for me I actually find the research doesn’t help,” he said.
“You can go over and over it, but you can also teach yourself the wrong way.”
He has been doing it so long now, he has the names of our top athletes down pat.
Gibson is also a qualified World Athletics Road Course Measurer and is about to sit his bronze official exam as he continues his love for volunteering for the sport.
He also has donated blood nearly 400 times and is a supporter of Camp Quality and other charities.
In National Volunteers Week, he is the perfect example of our volunteers who are dedicated and have a lifelong passion in helping the sport and officiating.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There is so much camaraderie when you have got 100 or so officials working together at a meet,” he said.
“You always have someone you can have a chat with, and if you are having a down day there is always someone to pick you up, or the other way around.”
By Luke Dennehy, Australian Athletics
Posted 21/5/2026
