Australian Swimming at the Olympics
Swimming is arguably Australia's most successful Olympic sport. The nation has produced a series of swimming legends, such as Ian Thorpe, who won five Olympic gold medals, and Dawn Fraser, a three-time Olympic champion in the 100-meter freestyle. Australia’s swimming program has consistently churned out world-class athletes who dominate the pool at every Olympics.
- In 1900 in Paris, Australian swimmer Frederick Lane won an unusual Olympic event - the obstacle swimming race [more about the Obstacle Race]
- Only one athlete has competed in three sports at the Olympic Games. Reginald “Snowy” Baker competed in Diving, Boxing and Swimming all in 1908 in London.
- The first women's swimming gold medal was won by the Australian Sarah 'Fanny' Durack, who won the 100m freestyle in 1912.
- Lily Beaurepaire is one of the few athletes to compete at the Olympics in two different sports: Diving and Swimming both in 1920.
- Australian swimmer Bob Windle is relatively unknown, but has a prominent place in Australia's fine 1500m swimming record. He won the event in Tokyo 1964, in an Olympic record time of 17min 1.7 seconds.
- Swimmer Ian Thorpe holds several medal records. He has the most Olympic medals (in all sports) of 9 Olympic medals: 5 gold (2000 x 3, 2004 x 2), 3 silver (2000 x 2, 2004 x 1), 1 bronze (2004 x 1). He also has the record for the most Gold Medals: 5 gold medals: 200m, 400m Freestyle (Athens 2004) 400m, 4x100m, 4x200m Freestyle Relay (Sydney 2000).
- Ian Thorpe also has the record for the most medals at a single Olympic Games: 5 medals in Sydney 2000- 3 gold, 2 silver. He shares this record with fellow swimmer Shane Gould in 1972 in Munich: 5 medals - 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze.
- The youngest gold medalist for Australia is Sandra Morgan in the 4x100m freestyle relay in Melbourne 1956. She was aged 14 years 6 months.
Related Pages
- Australian sporting teams at the Olympics
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