- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: IMP0175
Gould, Shane Elizabeth
- AM, MBE
- Born 23 November, 1956
- Occupation Olympian, Swimmer
Summary
At the age of 15, Shane Gould won five Olympic medals at the Munich games in 1972. During her short career she was the holder of every freestyle world record from 100 metres to 1500 metres. On 13 June 1981 Shane Gould was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to swimming.
Details
Educated at Turramurra High School, Shane Gould was coached in swimming by Forbes Carlile. She broke seven world records (her first at age 14) during her three year career, but did not compete at any Commonwealth Games, and only competed at one Olympic Games (Munich 1972). She was the first woman to break the 17-minute mark for the 1500 metres. Prior to the Munich Games, Shane Gould held every world record from 100 metres to 1500 metres. At the Munich games she won three individual gold, one silver and one bronze. Twelve months after the games, Gould decided to retire. At the age of 19 she married Neil Innes and moved to the Margaret River area in Western Australia. They had four children before their marriage broke up during the 1990s.
Shane Gould was the winner of the ABC Sportsman of the Year 1971 and 1972, being the first person to win the award two years running. In 1972 she was named Australian of the Year and in 1974 voted the world’s all-time best woman freestyle swimmer. In 1994 she was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Order and was an Olympic Torchbearer for the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Games. Her autobiography, Tumble Turns was published in 1999.
Olympic Games, Munich, 1972
200 metres freestyle swimming gold medal
400 metres freestyle swimming gold medal
200 metres individual medley swimming gold medal
800 metres freestyle swimming silver medal
100 metres freestyle swimming bronze medal
Events
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1972
Swimming – 200m and 400m freestyle; 200m Individual Medley
Gold Medalist at the Munich Olympic Games -
1972
Swimming – 800m freestyle
Silver Medalist at the Munich Olympic Games -
1972
Swimming – 100m freestyle
Bronze Medalist at the Munich Olympic Games -
2018
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
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2001
Awarded a Centenary Medal ‘for service to the sport of swimming in Australia’
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2000
Awarded an Australian Sports Medal
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1981
Awarded The Order of the British Empire – Member (Civil) (Imperial) ‘in recognition of service to the sport of swimming’
Published resources
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Resource
- Trove: Gould, Shane (1956-), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-481665
- Australia at the Games, Australian Olympic Committee, 2006, http://corporate.olympics.com.au/index.cfm?p=25
- Book
- Edited Book
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Site Exhibition
- She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2007, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/sg/sport-home.html