Shane Gould

by Gypsy

My favourite woman in history is still alive and STILL my hero. Her name is Shane Gould and she is a swimmer. She was and is the only person male or female to simultaneously hold every world record from 100m to 1500m. In 1972 she entered the Munich Olympics in 5 events and won 3 gold a silver and a bronze. Her swimming career was brief, started at 13 and finished at 17, only 4 years and she left swimming to start a life as a wife and mother in the bush in Western Australia .. with no amenities. In effect, Shane turned her back on ‘Shane Gould the swimmer’. Voluntarily adopting a natural and simple lifestyle with her husband, Neil Innes, on a farm near the town of Margaret River in Western Australia, Shane developed a love for horses and a passion for the environment. The birth of four children in five years from 1978 to 1983 saw another "tumble turn" into the role of mother and educator. She taught natural horsemanship, women’s learn-to-surf classes, and 16 seasons of learn-to-swim. Competitive urges were satisfied by unusual events. In 1993 and 1994 she was the WA state horse ploughing champion. Shane has always set high standards for excellence and technique accuracy. What is most important to her is the ‘feel’ in a sport. Feel for the horse, feel of the water, feel of the ocean’s power. Harmony and connection with the water or the animal is a meditative thing for Shane that is a practical outworking of her reverence for God and connection to nature. Since then she has participated in Clean Sports, designed to prevent drug use in sport and many public speaking events. As if this isn't enough she has, at 47, qualified for the Olympic trials and has broken her own personal best record. Sadly she is not able to compete but just qualifying fills me with hope. This woman is magic....47 Can you believe it??