About Me

My Story

I was born June 5th, 1992 and was destined to be a sportsperson. Dad played over 300 games of SANFL Australian Rules Football and my mum was state netballer.

At the age of 2 my family moved to Brisbane. Mum was already teaching swimming back in Adelaide and she quickly found a job teaching swimming at the Bracken Ridge Primary School. When she was working at the pool and being so young my two older brothers and myself were always at the pool after school and were enrolled to do lessons. We had a pool at home so Mum wanted to make sure we were proficient in the water and could save ourselves.

Although I loved playing in the pool and had no fear of swimming, I didn’t particularly like the structure of lessons. My brother and I would often get told off for fighting under water. It wasn’t until I started racing that I found my love for swimming, progressing from club nights to local meets, to Brisbane meets and then Queensland meets.

My First Australian Age Championships

When I was 11, I competed at my first Australian Age Championships competing in the 100 backstroke winning the event and gaining a spot on my first Australian Age team called the Trans-Tasman. From then on, I was no stranger to Australian Age Nationals competing every year until 2006. I had many age records not only in Backstroke but in the 200 IM as well.

First Open Australian Championships

At 14 years of age, I swam my first open Australian Championships in 2006. The only reason I swam was because it was at Chandler Aquatic centre in Brisbane. I made it into the final lane 4 and dead-heated to win and qualify for the 2007 World Championship team. I was 14 at the time. The World Championships were in Melbourne and I competed in the 100m Backstroke winning my heat. I made it through to the final and finished 4th in the world. I got selected on the 4×100 Medley Relay swimming the Backstroke leg alongside Leisel Jones, Jessica Schipper and Libby Trickett. We won the Gold Medal in a World Record Time Infront of a home crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Olympic Gold & WR 4x100 Medley Relay

In 2008 I made the team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. I was the youngest Australian team member in any of the sports represented. This was the first year of the Super Suit Era and I swam a personal best in the 100 Backstroke but just missed the final qualifying 9th. Even though I was a little disappointed I was the fastest Australian and was picked to swim the Backstroke leg in the 4×100 Medley relay were we again won Gold in a World Record time. I was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for my sporting performances at the Beijing Olympics.

2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

8 Events 8 Medals

2010 was my first Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. I had my hands full in competing in 8 events. Adding 50 Butterfly, 100 freestyle, both 4×100 relays and all the backstroke events and medalling in all events.

2012 London Olympic Games

Olympic individual silver medalist

In the 2012 London Olympic Games I swam the 100 Backstroke breaking the Olympic Record that still stands today with a time of 58:23.

I swam the heat of the 4×100 Freestyle relay which won gold, and placed 2nd in the 100 backstroke to win an individual Silver medal and then backed up for the 4×100 Medley Relay where we won a Silver Medal.

2013 Barcelona World Championships & 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

In 2013 I again made the team to compete in Barcelona at the World Championships and again won a silver medal in the 100 backstroke and medley relay events.

In 2014 I made the team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow winning medals in all the events I was in except the 50 backstoke where I came 4th.

2015 Kazan World Championships

World Champion 100 & 200 Backstroke

After qualifying for my 5th World Championship team, we headed to Kazan, Russia. I had been selected to swim the heat of the 4×100 Freestyle and after swimming a fast-opening leg I was picked for the finals team, which we went on to win Gold. This was one of my most successful meets, as I continued my run of being in form and took home the Gold to be crowned World Champion in both the 100 & 200 Backstroke!

2016 Rio Olympic Games

In 2016 I made the team for my 3rd Olympics in Rio. Unfortunately, I had been diagnosed with Endometriosis and I was quite ill during competition and didn’t swim anywhere near my best. I had an operation at the beginning of 2017, and this helped with my condition.

2017 Budapest World Championships

World Champion 200 Backstroke

Coming back from disappointment in 2016, I qualified of the World Championship team headed for Budapest. I raced in both 100 and 200 backstroke and 4×100 Medley relay. After swimming a great 100 Backstroke finishing with the Bronze medal, I swam a personal best time in the 200 Backstroke to win the Gold and be back to back World Champion.

2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

At the Commonwealth Games in 2018 I won medals in all events I swam including Gold in the 50 Backstroke and 4×100 Medley relay, Silver in the 100 Backstroke and Bronze in the 200 Backstroke.

Order of Australia Medal and Other Awards

I have made every Australian swim team since 2007 and continue to train for the Tokyo Olympics later this year. I have been World Champion in the 100 backstroke in 2015 and 200 backstroke World Champion 2015 and 2017. I have been to the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic games winning a total of 2 Gold Medals and 3 Silver Medals and currently still hold the Olympic Record in the 100 Backstroke. In 2008 after winning gold in the 4×100 Medley relay and breaking the World Record I was awarded an Order of Australian Medal (OAM). I was the AIS Australian Female Athlete of the year 2015 winner. I have been nominated for the Australian Don award twice 2015 and 2017. I was honoured in February 2018 with the opening of the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre in Bracken Ridge.

The Road Ahead

I am training for the Tokyo Olympics and if I make it on the Team it will be my 4th Olympics.