Who is Shane Gould?
Shane Gould is an Australian swimmer who won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze, all in individual events, at the 1972 Munich Olympics at just 15 years of age.
Gould was born in Sydney in 1956. As a teenager, she broke world records in a remarkable range of freestyle events.
By early 1972, she held every women's freestyle world record from 100 metres to 1500 metres at the same time, as well as the 200 metres individual medley record. No other swimmer has matched this achievement.
Munich 1972
At the 1972 Munich Olympics, Gould won gold in the 200 metres freestyle, 400 metres freestyle and 200 metres individual medley, all in world-record times. She also won silver in the 800 metres freestyle and bronze in the 100 metres freestyle.
Her five individual medals at one Games were a remarkable achievement for a 15-year-old. She became a national celebrity in Australia.
Gould retired at just 16, finding the pressure of fame difficult. Later in life she returned to swimming in masters competitions, completed a doctorate and won the reality television show Australian Survivor in 2019.
Did You Know?
Gould's 1972 achievements made her one of Australia's most celebrated sporting figures.