Who is Shane Gould? All you need to know about the Australian swimmer who quit the sport after winning 5 medals in a single Olympic edition
The Australian swimmer - Shane Gould made headlines in 1972 during the Munich Olympic Games. She won Olympic medals in 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,500-meter freestyle swimming distances. It was a record by Shane Gould, and an Australian legend was born.
Shane was born in Fiji, and she grew up in Australia. She competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics at the age of 15. She was part of 12 swimming races in 8 days and won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley, 200-meter freestyle, and 400-meter freestyle, all in world-record times.
That was not the end. She went on to win a silver medal in the 800 meters and a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle race. She dominated the women's swimming competition in 1972.
Due to her achievement at the Munich Games, Shane Gould was named the Australian of the Year in 1972. However, at the age of 16, Gould said goodbye to the fame and announced her retirement from the sport. It was a shocking decision at a very early stage of her career.
In the late 1990s, she again came into the spotlight. Gould became the swimming mentor for the players participating in the Olympics. Not only that, in 2003, Gould competed at the masters level in 2003 and set up a record in her age group in the 200-meter individual medley.
Australia’s Memorable Olympic Moments - Ft. Shane Gould
Australia has always been a country with an inclination towards sport. They have produced some of the best Olympic players in the past who have given the nation a long list of moments to be proud of. Shane Gould winning five medals in a single Olympics in 1972 was one of the most memorable moments of all time.
Betty Cuthbert - the Golden Girl of Australia, did something magical in the Melbourne 1956 Olympics. She won 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay races and became the national hero.
Dean Lukin made history by winning a gold medal in weightlifting at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. A son of a fisherman - Dean, lifted a combined weight of 412.5 Kg and secured the first Olympic gold for Australia.
Australia's women's hockey went through a golden period during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their two consecutive golds in 1996 and 2000 - Atlanta and Sydney, declared their dominance in the sport.
Anna Meares's comeback in the 2012 London Olympics is still the most talk event for Australia. After a career-ending crash in 2008. Meares made a comeback in the 2012 London Olympics and secured a gold medal in the Women’s Sprint Track Cycling Final.