Shane Gould
Encyclopedia
Shane Elizabeth Gould, MBE (born 23 November 1956) is an Australian former swimmer who won three gold medals
, a silver
and bronze
in 1972 Summer Olympics
. It was the greatest performance by an Australian at a single Olympics.
. She moved to Fiji
with her family at the age of 18 months. By the age of six, she was a competent swimmer. She attended primary school at St. Peters Lutheran College, Brisbane, where a sporting house is named after her, and secondary school at Turramurra High School, Sydney. She was trained by leading coaches Forbes
and Ursula Carlile and their assistant Tom Green.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics, in Munich
, Gould won three gold medals, setting a world record in each race. She also won a bronze and a silver medal.
At the age of 16, she retired from swimming.
She is the only person, male or female, to hold every world freestyle
record from 100 m to 1500 m simultaneously, and the first female swimmer ever to win three Olympic gold medals in world record
time.
She was awarded Australian of the Year
in 1972.
She was one of the bearers of the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney. She carried the Olympic Torch at the stadium, as one of the runners for the final segment, before the lighting of the Olympic Flame
.
She now divides her time between Launceston, Tasmania
and Sydney, and still swims, in Masters competitions.
She has four children from her first marriage, and two grandchildren. She married Milton Nelms in 2007.
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
, a silver
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
and bronze
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. It was the greatest performance by an Australian at a single Olympics.
Biography
Shane Gould was born in Sydney, Australia, on the first day of competition of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. She moved to Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
with her family at the age of 18 months. By the age of six, she was a competent swimmer. She attended primary school at St. Peters Lutheran College, Brisbane, where a sporting house is named after her, and secondary school at Turramurra High School, Sydney. She was trained by leading coaches Forbes
Forbes Carlile
Forbes Carlile MBE was Australia's first post-World War II Olympics swimming coach and later Australia's first competitor in the modern pentathlon at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He remains the only person to have coached and later competed at the Olympic Games.Born in Armadale, Victoria,...
and Ursula Carlile and their assistant Tom Green.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics, in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Gould won three gold medals, setting a world record in each race. She also won a bronze and a silver medal.
At the age of 16, she retired from swimming.
She is the only person, male or female, to hold every world freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
record from 100 m to 1500 m simultaneously, and the first female swimmer ever to win three Olympic gold medals in world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
time.
She was awarded Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
in 1972.
She was one of the bearers of the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney. She carried the Olympic Torch at the stadium, as one of the runners for the final segment, before the lighting of the Olympic Flame
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
.
She now divides her time between Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
and Sydney, and still swims, in Masters competitions.
She has four children from her first marriage, and two grandchildren. She married Milton Nelms in 2007.
Other achievements
- 1971 Best Sportswoman in the World
- 1971 ABC Sportswoman of the Year
- 1972 ABC Sportswoman of the Year
- 1972 Australian of the YearAustralian of the YearSince 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
- 1981 Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) - 1994 Olympic Order
- 1995 Legend of Australian Sport
- 2000 Australian Sports MedalAustralian Sports MedalThe Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
- 2001 Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
See also
- List of multiple Olympic medalists at a single Games
- World record progression 200m medley