Famous Australian Swimmers

Dawn Fraser is an Australian freestyle champion swimmer. She won the Olympic individual event the women's 100-meter freestyle three times in her career. She also won six Commonwealth Games gold medals. Much respected for her athletic abilities, she was also known for her controversial behavior. She became a swimming coach after her retirement. She is also a former politician.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shane Gould was 15 when she participated in the Munich Olympics. She stunned everyone with her early retirement at 16 and stayed away from the limelight for 25 years, eventually re-emerging after raising her four kids on an Australian farm and then breaking records at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning Australian swimmer Grant Hackett is a master of freestyle swimming. He also captained the Australian swimming team for a while. Apart from holding several freestyle world records, he also came to be known as the King of the 1500m. He has also worked as a sports presenter.

Stephanie Rice is an Australian retired swimmer best known for winning three gold medals at the 2008 Olympics. In the same year, she was named Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year. Rice also won two silver medals and five bronze medals at the World Championships during her career. In 2019, she was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning Australian swimmer Leisel Jones is also known by her nicknames Diesel and Lethal Leisel. Known for her signature breaststroke technique, she has also won 7 World Championship titles. Post-retirement, she has penned a memoir, been a sports commentator, and qualified as a nutrition coach.

Ariarne Titmus is an Australian swimmer best known for her performance at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where she won two gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal. Ariarne Titmus has also won two gold medals in the long course and two gold medals in the short course at the World Championships so far.

One of Australia’s best-known distance swimmers, Kieren Perkins is also known to fans as the Superfish. Apart from breaking 11 world records, he also became the first person to simultaneously hold the World, Olympic, Commonwealth, and Pan Pacific titles. The 2-time Olympic gold medalist later became the CEO of the Australian Sports Commission.

Australian swimmer Emma McKeon is a 5-time Olympic gold medalist and once held 4 world records. She is now one of 2 Australian athletes with the most Olympic gold medal wins. Known for her freestyle and butterfly strokes, she is also a Member of the Order of Australia.

Eamon Sullivan is an Australian retired sprint swimmer and former world record holder. He is best known for his performance in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, where he won two silver medals and one bronze medal. Eamon Sullivan also won two gold medals at the World Championships and three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games during his career.

Ian Thorpe is an Australian retired swimmer who won five Olympic gold medals. He predominantly competed in freestyle but was also skilled at backstroke and the individual medley. He emerged as the most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics, with three gold and two silver medals. He is openly gay and often talks about the challenges of being homosexual. 

Michael Klim is a Polish-born Australian competitive swimmer and former world record holder. He is best known for winning two gold medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Michael Klim has also won seven gold medals in the long course and five gold medals in the short course so far in the World Championships. 

Boy Charlton was an Australian competitive swimmer best remembered for his performance at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, France, where he won a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal. He also performed well at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, where he won two silver medals. Boy Charlton also set five world records during the course of his career.

Olympic bronze-winning Australian swimmer Justin Norris is known for his mastery in the butterfly and individual medley categories and for his catchphrase, “I’m stoked.” He won three golds at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. He is the father of Sabre Norris and her siblings from the YouTube channel The Norris Nuts.

Murray Rose was an Australian swimmer, sports commentator, actor, and marketing executive. A former world record holder, Rose is best remembered for winning three gold medals at the 1956 Olympic Games. He also won a gold medal, a silver medal, and a bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games. In 2001, Murray Rose was honored with the prestigious Centenary Medal.

Libby Trickett is an Australian former swimmer best known for winning gold medals at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics. A former world record holder, Trickett also won eight gold medals in the long course and seven gold medals in the short course at the World Championships. In 2016, Libby Trickett was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Annette Kellerman was an Australian vaudeville star, writer, film actress, and professional swimmer. A fashion icon, Kellerman was among the first women to wear and popularize a one-piece swimsuit. She also helped popularize synchronized swimming. An advocate of natural beauty, health, and fitness, Annette Kellerman was one of the first major actresses to appear nude in a Hollywood film.

Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning Australian swimmer Susie O'Neill is also known as Madame Butterfly for her expertise in the butterfly stroke. Post-retirement, she has taken up sports commentary and has been associated with a medical non-profit. She is a Member of the Order of Australia.

Jodie Henry is an Australian former swimmer best known for winning three gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She also won five gold medals at the World Championships. A former world-record holder, Jodie Henry also has four Commonwealth Games gold medals and two Pan Pacific Championship titles under her belt.

Emily Seebohm is an Australian competitive swimmer best known for winning a gold medal each at the 2008, 2012, and 2020 Olympic Games. She has also won five World Championship gold medals and seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Games so far. In 2009, Emily Seebohm was honored with the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Kyle Chalmers is an Australian swimmer best known for winning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He has also won two gold medals at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships. Over the course of his career, Kyle Chalmers has also won seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Games so far.

Kaylee McKeown is an Australian competitive swimmer best known for winning three gold medals at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. In 2022, Kaylee McKeown won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and one gold medal at the World Championships.   

Zac Stubblety-Cook is an Australian swimmer best known for winning a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He has also won a gold medal in the long course at the 2022 World Championships and two gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Olympic gold medal-winning Australian freestyle swimmer Mack Holton has also won medals at the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. In 2019, he refused to shake hands with or share the podium with Chinese swimmer Sun Yang at the World Aquatics Championships, accusing Sun of doping.

Apart from winning 2 Olympic medals, retired Australian swimmer Geoff Huegill also has 6 World Championship titles under his belt. Also known as Skippy, he returned to swimming in 2008, a few years after his first retirement. He and his wife, Sara Hills, were once charged with possessing cocaine.

Fanny Durack was an Australian swimmer best remembered for winning a gold medal at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, where she represented Australasia. In 1967, she was made an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Fanny Durack was also inducted into the Swimming Australia Hall of Fame in 2022.

Australian swimmer Maddison Elliott was 13 when she scripted history as the youngest-ever Australian Paralympic medalist. Diagnosed with right-side cerebral palsy at age 4, she took up swimming to aid her physiotherapy. She was named the Australian Paralympic Female Athlete of the Year in 2016.

John Konrads was an Australian swimmer best remembered for winning a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. At the same Olympics, he also won two bronze medals for Australia. John Konrads set 26 individual world records over the course of his swimming career. In 1985, he was made an inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Retired Australian swimmer Duncan Armstrong is known for his gold and silver wins at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. An expert in freestyle strokes, he had begun swimming at age 5. He won 2 gold medals at his debut Commonwealth Games in 1986. Post-retirement, he worked as a swimming commentator and hosted Fox Sports Central. 

Three-time Olympic gold medal-winning retired Australian swimmer Petria Thomas has 15 national titles under her belt. She specialized in freestyle and butterfly strokes and was later named to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Post-retirement, she took up coaching and also released a memoir. Her career was plagued by shoulder injuries.

Bronte Barratt is an Australian former competitive swimmer best known for winning a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She also performed well at the 2012 Olympic Games, where she won a silver medal and a bronze medal. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Bronte Barratt won a silver medal for Australia.

Michael Wenden is an Australian swimmer best known for winning two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He also won nine gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. In 1979, Michael Wenden was made an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Brittany Elmslie is an Australian retired swimmer best known for winning a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She also performed well at the 2016 Olympic Games, where she won a gold medal and a silver medal. At the 2016 World Championships, Brittany Elmslie also won a gold medal in short course.

John Devitt is an Australian former freestyle swimmer. He is best known for his performance at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, where he won a gold medal each. He also won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics respectively. In 1979, John Devitt was made an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.  

Lorraine Crapp is an Australian retired swimmer who specialized in freestyle. She is best known for winning two gold medals and a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics; Crapp broke 17 world records in 1956. She also won a silver medal at the 1960 Olympics. In 1972, Lorraine Crapp was made an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Michelle Ford is an Australian retired long-distance swimmer who specialized in butterfly and freestyle swimming. She is best known for winning a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. She also won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. In 1994, Michelle Ford was made an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

Olympic gold medal-winning Australian breaststroke swimmer Clare Dennis was 15 when she broke the 220 yards breaststroke world record. She was also the first Australian female athlete to win a gold medal at the British Empire Games. She was posthumously named to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Bob Windle is an Australian former freestyle swimmer best known for winning a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Over the course of his career, Bob Windle also won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Jon Sieben is an Australian retired swimmer who won a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He also performed well at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, where he won a gold medal and a bronze medal. In 1985, Jon Sieben was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Apart from being an Olympic gold medalist, Australian swimmer John Davies was also a UCLA graduate and later became a federal judge in the US. The breaststroke specialist became Australia’s first swimming gold medal winner since Clare Dennis, at Helsinki in 1952. He was also named to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Jon Henricks is an Australian former swimmer best known for winning two gold medals at the 1956 Olympics. He also won three gold medals at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. In 1973, Jon Henricks was made an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was made an inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 

Brad Cooper is an Australian retired swimmer best known for winning a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. In 1990, he was made an inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 2000, Brad Cooper was honored with an Australian Sports Medal.

Frederick Lane was an Australian competitive swimmer best remembered for winning two gold medals at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. In 1985, he was made an inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Frederick Lane was also inducted into the Swimming Australia Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Kevin Berry was an Australian swimmer best remembered for winning a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also won three gold medals at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. Kevin Berry retired from swimming after setting 12 world records. He then worked for The Sydney Morning Herald before becoming the head of ABC Sport.

David Theile is an Australian retired backstroke swimmer who won a gold medal each at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. He also won a silver medal at the 1960 Olympic Games. After retiring from competitive swimming, David Theile went on to become a successful surgeon and medical administrator.

Beverley Whitfield was an Australian competitive swimmer who specialized in breaststroke. She is best remembered for winning a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. Beverley Whitfield also won three gold medals at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and two silver medals at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch.

Gail Neall is an Australian retired swimmer who specialized in medley and the butterfly stroke. She is best known for winning a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics. Neall also won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games, respectively. In 1990, Neall was made an inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.