Stephanie Rice OAM

Stephanie Rice is one of Australia’s most successful Olympians and one of the world’s most recognisable athletes.

At 17, Stephanie burst onto the international stage in 2006, winning gold in the 200 & 400 Individual Medley at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She followed with two bronze medals in the same events at the 2007 World Swimming Championships in Melbourne.

In 2008, Stephanie cemented her dominance in both Individual medleys and as lead off swimmer in the 4×200 Freestyle Relay Team. She won a stunning haul of three Olympic Gold medals and three World Records. She also took home the title of “Most outstanding female athlete at the Beijing Olympics” and was honoured to be Australia’s flag-bearer during the closing ceremony.

Following the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Stephanie was named World Swimmer of the Year, Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year, Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year and Queensland Sportswoman of the Year. She was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

In 2009, she also won two Silver and one Bronze medal at the World Swimming Championships in Rome. The following year, she underwent surgery on her right shoulder to remove an inflamed bursa. As a result, she withdrew from the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Stephanie underwent several months of intensive rehabilitation including regular physiotherapy. Her training schedule changed to light swimming and dry land training, before a gradual return to her pre-surgery schedule.

Her first competition after surgery was at the Queensland State Championships in 2010. This was followed by the NSW State Swimming Championships in 2011.

At the National Championships at Sydney Olympic Park in 2011- her first major meet since surgery – Stephanie won the 400m Individual Medley.

In June 2011 Stephanie spent three weeks in Mexico training at high altitude before competing in the Santa Clara International Swim Meet. Stephanie won Gold at this meet in the 400m Individual Medley with a time of 4:36.5. It was the 3rd fastest time swum in the world that year.

At the 2011 World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, Stephanie won two Bronze medals – the 400m Individual Medley and 4 x 100m Medley Relay. Stephanie came 4th in the 200m Individual Medley and 5th in the 200m Butterfly, her two other Individual events.

At the Australian Swimming Championships in 2012, Stephanie came first in the 400m Individual Medley with a time of 4:34.23. She came second in the 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2:06.08.

Stephanie trained at the St Peters Western Club in the inner western suburbs of Brisbane, under Head Coach, Michael Bohl. Michael was awarded the Australian Swim Coach of the Year in 2008.

Outside of training, Stephanie enjoys time relaxing and eating out with friends, movies, music, ten pin bowling and mini golf.

At the end of 2012 Stephanie made the decision to move to Sydney indefinitely.

2013 is set to be a big year for Stephanie. Stephanie will be joining the TODAY show as their official health and fitness reporter.