Australian Women 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.   

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Lyn McClements is an Australian swimmer who specializes in the butterfly stroke. She is best known for winning a gold medal and a silver medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico. In 1991, Lyn McClements was made an inductee of Sport of Australia's Hall of Fame. In 2018, she was inducted into Swimming WA's Hall of Legends.