Researchers call for action as elite swimmers at heightened risk of developing melanoma.
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00:00 Besides being champions, Kate Campbell and Sam Short have something else in common.
00:07 Both have had early-stage melanoma.
00:10 Freestyler Sam Short is a Commonwealth medalist and world champion.
00:14 He was one of the athletes involved in a pilot study by the University of Queensland.
00:20 44 elite swimmers and 23 support staff were assessed.
00:25 Three of the swimmers had earlier been diagnosed with melanoma.
00:29 Researchers found up to 20% of the athletes are at higher risk of developing skin cancer early in life.
00:37 Quite a few have a few moles, which are precursor lesions or sometimes the start of a melanoma.
00:45 16% reported being severely sunburnt 50 or more times as an adult.
00:52 Which means that obviously more can be done to protect them in the future.
00:56 Leading dermatologist Professor Sawyer is calling for major outdoor swimming pools to be shaded ahead of the Brisbane Olympics.
01:04 The world is looking at us. I think in our major pools we should have shades.
01:10 One Australian is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes and it's estimated 1,300 people will die from the cancer this year.
01:19 It's hoped more action to protect elite sports people will flow through to everyone playing and watching sport.
01:26 Co-Australian of the Year Professor Georgina Long says sun safety should be as fundamental as helmets in cycling or life jackets in water sports.
01:36 What we need to do is call on sporting bodies, the government and in fact all Australian people to take notice of sun safety in sports.
01:46 The next generation is counting on it.
01:49 Bye!
01:51 (audience laughing)