Biography of Stephanie Rice

Swimming is one of the most famous Olympic sports. It has produced many legendary figures and
never fails to enthrall the viewers. Australia, famous for its remarkable presence in virtually every
sport, has a strong culture of swimming and has produced quite a few famous swimmers; Ian
Thorpe, of course, leads the way. Born in this proud sporting nation, Stephanie Rice has often been
seen as an example of a natural talent failing to realize her true potential. While she remains a
household name Down Under, her image to the world is more akin to that of a spoiled teenager.
Let's take a look.
Index
Quick Facts

Personal Details
Name: Stephanie Rice
Nicknames: Steph, Ricey
Nationality: Australian
Born: June 17, 1988
Place of Birth: Brisbane
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 150 lbs
Trivia
Rice's hobbies include ten-pin bowling and mini golf. She is also a self-confessed movie buff. She is
sponsored by SunRice. She trains at the St. Peters Western Club in Brisbane and is coached by
Michael Bohl.
Stephanie kick-started her career in the year 2006 by winning the gold medal in the 200 m

individual medley at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, posting a time of 2:12.90. She
also won a gold in the 400 m individual medley.
The success sustained through 2007; at the 2007 Melbourne World Championships, she earned a
bronze medal in the 200 m individual medley, breaking the previous Australian record by a second.
In the 400 m individual medley, Rice once again secured the third position, achieving a second
bronze medal with a personal best time of 4:41.19.

At an Italian meet later in 2007, Rice continued the good performances with a new personal best
time of 4:40.79 in the 400 m individual medley. At the 2007 Japanese Open Championships,
Stephanie Rice broke her personal best time in the 400 m individual medley, finally passing the 4:40
barrier in the process. She set a new Australian and Commonwealth record of 4:37.18.
The year 2008 was memorable for Rice, as she participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and
set 3 world records in the 200 m individual medley, the 400 m individual medley and the 4x200 m
freestyle relay. This was preceded by a Pan Pacific tussle for the 400 m individual medley world
record between Rice, participating in the Australian trials, and Katie Hoff, participating in the
American trials. Hoff had set a world record time of 4:32.89, only to be beaten by Rice's 4:31.46.
Hoff, however, went into the Olympics with the world record to her name, having set a time of
4:31.12.
In the Olympic final, Rice broke through the 4:30 barrier to post a time of 4:29.45, setting the world
record and becoming the first woman to cross the 4:30 barrier (although Kirsty Coventry, who
finished second in the race, also posted a sub-4:30 time). Hoff won the bronze with a time of 4:31.71.
In winning the 400 m individual medley, Rice won her first Olympic medal, Australia's first gold at
the Beijing Games and 400th medal at the Summer Olympics. Later, she also won the 200 m
individual medley in a world record time of 2:08.45 and the 4x200 m freestyle relay, in which the
Australian team posted a world record time of 7:44.31.

In the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, Rice won two silver and a bronze, although one of the
silver medals was for her contribution in the medley relay heats, and not for having won the second
place.
2006 Commonwealth Games:Gold: 200 m Individual Medley Gold: 400 m Individual Medley 2007
World Swimming Championship:Bronze: 200 m Individual Medley Bronze: 400 m Individual
Medley 2008 Beijing Olympics:Gold: 200 m Individual Medley Gold: 400 m Individual
Medley Gold: 4x200 m Freestyle Relay 2009 World Swimming ChampionshipsSilver: 200 m
Individual Medley Silver: 4x200 m Freestyle Relay heats Bronze: 400 m Individual medley 2011
World Swimming Championships:Bronze: 400 m Individual Medley Bronze: 4x100 m Medley Relay
2008 Telstra Australian Swimmer of the Year
2008 World Swimmer of the Year
2008 Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year
2008 Queensland Sportswoman of the Year
Received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008
At the 2012 London Olympics, Rice came under fire when, having failed to add to her 2008 medal
tally, she was spotted with controversial American basketball star Kobe Bryant. Although she was
quick to douse the embers of press speculation, it brought under focus the enigma that has puzzled
sports analysts all over the world, especially Down Under. Stephanie Rice is, without a shadow of
doubt, one of the most naturally talented swimmers Australia has produced and, if only she could
curb her supposedly irresponsible side, many believe that she can reach heights never scaled before.
Come Rio 2016, and we'll find out whether Rice bolsters her fame as a wasted talent or as a true
Olympic champion.
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