When teenager Shane Gould took Munich Olympics by storm

Back in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Shane Gould defied age to take down records. At the age of 15, the Australian swimmer made a mark in the quadrennial event. The youngster, born on the first day of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, became the first swimmer to win medals in five individual events in a single tournament.

She won gold medals in the 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter medley. In the 800-meter medley, Gould clinched the silver medal. The then-teenager won the bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle. In the Munich Games, she took part in 11 races in eight days.

In 1973, she became the first woman to break the 17-minute mark in the 1500-meter event. She set a new world record after clocking 16 minutes and 56.9 seconds.

However, it came as a massive surprise when she pulled the curtains down on her three-year-long career. But two decades later, she made a comeback at the Masters Level. In 2003, she broke the world record for 45-49 years 200-meter individual medley after timing 2:38:13.

Gould had said that she was under pressure and in the limelight after the success she gained in the Munich Olympics.

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Shane Gould’s other achievements and personal life

Gould carried the torch at the 2000 Olympics at the stadium. In 1972, she was named the Australian of the Year. In 2018, the Australian Olympic Committee awarded Gould an Order of Merit. In the next year, she got a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from Victoria University.

In 1985, Gould was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 1999, her autobiography, titled ‘Tumble Turns’ was released. She married Neil Innes at the age of 18 and stayed in Western Australia’s South West, but her marriage ended after 22 years. In 2007, she tied the knot with Milton Nelms.

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