The Australian swimming family is in mourning following the tragic death of the man credited with shaping the culture of the national team and the fabric of the sport of swimming, Terry Buck. He was 61.

Buck was killed in a farming accident on his property at Karool, just south of Tweed Heads on Sunday, Australian Swimming announced.

He is survived by wife Laraine and three daughters, Meghan, Elysse and Sarah.

Buck was the only man or woman to have represented Australia at the Olympic Games as an athlete (1964), Head Coach (1984) and Team Manager (1992 and 1996) and also represented Australia in surf life saving, with the Clovelly Surf Club, where he was also a Life Member.

Even in his 61st year, "Bucky" was still pursuing his love of coaching, guiding the youngsters at the Tweed Heads Swimming Pool and the Coolangatta Surf Club.

"In many ways Bucky was the heart and soul of the sport," said Olympic Champion and current Swimming Australia board member Kieren Perkins, who won both of his 1500m freestyle gold medals under Buck's team management in Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996).

"He held the team together in many ways and allowed the athletes to represent Australia without having to worry about anything else that was going on around us. He connected with everyone, whether they were the youngest girl or the oldest male on the team, whether you were a surfer or a country boy. He knew how to connect with people and he brought everyone together."

Current national head coach Alan Thompson was another who was personally touched by Buck's gentle but dedicated manner when he was introduced to coaching by Buck at the Revesby Pool in 1980.

"Bucky was a father figure to me personally and to most of the people involved in the sport today, especially the coaches," Thompson said.

"You simply can not replace Terry Buck.

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