Stephanie Louise Rice OAM was born on 17th June 1988. She is an Australian swimmer. She won three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26th January 2009. On 9 April 2014, she confirmed her retirement.
Rice was the gold medalist in the 200 meters individual medley at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia where she defeated Olympians Brooke Hanson and Lara Carroll to claim the gold medal in the event in a time of 2:12.90, a personal best by 1.19 sec. She also won the 400m individual medley.
At the 2007 Melbourne World Championships she won a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley in a time of 2 minutes 11.42 seconds, breaking the previous Australian record by a second. American Katie Hoff won the gold in 2:10.13, with Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe in second place. Rice once again placed third, earning her second bronze medal in the 400m individual medley final. In a new personal best time Rice finished in 4:41.19, taking 0.54 sec off her previous best.
Rice continued her strong performance, setting a new personal best time in the 400m individual medley at an Italian meet in June 2007. Rice went a 4:40.79, edging closer to the elusive 4:40 barrier in the event. At the 2007 Japanese Open Championships, Rice smashed her personal best time in the 400m individual medley and finally cracked the 4:40 barrier. In placing second to Zimbabwean champion Kirsty Coventry, Rice set a new Australian and Commonwealth record of 4:37.18, a personal best by 3.61 sec.
At the 2008 Australian Olympic trials, Rice broke the world record in the 400 m individual medley. Rice stopped the clock at 4 minutes 31.46 seconds, 1.43 seconds under American Katie Hoff’s mark of 4:32.89. On 29 June 2008, at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Hoff regained the world record from Rice with a time of 4:31.12. Rice claimed her second world record of the meet, when she broke the 200 m individual medley world record, clocking 2 minutes 8.92 seconds to slash almost a full second off the previous record held by China’s Wu Yanyan.
At the Beijing Olympic Games, Rice received her first-ever Olympic medal, Australia’s first gold medal of the games and its 400th summer Olympic medal, winning the 400m individual medley in a time of 4 minutes 29.45 seconds. In the process she reclaimed the world record from Hoff bettering the mark by 1.67 seconds, thus becoming the first woman to break the 4:30 in the event, (Kirsty Coventry also went under 4:30 in taking the silver).
Rice won bronze in the 200 m and 400 m individual medleys. In the 200 m final, she recorded a time of 2:11.42, a second below the previous Australian record, behind American Katie Hoff in 2:10.13, and Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, who claimed second place. In the 400 m final, Rice recorded a new personal best time of 4:41.19, shaving 0.54 sec off her previous best.
Rice set a new personal best time of 4:40.79 in the 400 m individual medley at an Italian meet in June 2007 edging closer to the 4:40 barrier in the event.
At the 2007 Japanese Open Championships, Rice won silver behind Zimbabwean champion Kirsty Coventry in the 400 m individual medley. In doing so, she smashed her personal best time by 3.61 seconds, cracking the 4:40 barrier and setting a new Australian and Commonwealth record of 4:37.18.
At the 2008 Australian Olympic trials, Rice broke the world record in both the 400 m and 200 m individual medleys. In the 400 m, she clocked 4:31.46, 1.43 seconds below American Katie Hoff’s mark of 4:32.89. (Hoff retook the world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials on 29 June 2008, with a time of 4:31.12). In the 200 m, she clocked 2:08.92 seconds, taking almost a second off the previous record held by China’s Wu Yanyan.
In Beijing, Rice won three gold medals (each in world record time) in the 200 m and 400 m individual medleys and in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay. In winning the 400m individual medley, Rice won her first Olympic medal, Australia’s first gold medal of the games and their 400th Summer Olympic medal. Recording a time of 4:29.45, she reclaimed the world record from Hoff, bettering the mark by 1.67 seconds, and became the first woman to break the 4:30 mark in the event. (Kirsty Coventry also went under 4:30 in taking the silver).
Her second gold medal of the games came on 13 August in the 200 m individual medley with a new world record time of 2:08.45. Rice prevailed after being neck and neck with Coventry throughout the last 50 m, who once again followed Rice to beat the old world record. On 14 August she won her third gold medal as part of the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay team. She led off the team and Australia was in second place at the end of her leg.
Rice began the meet with a solid performance in the 200m IM. Despite losing her world record, she sliced 1.42s off her personal best time while capturing a silver medal.
Experimenting with the 200 freestyle did not end well as she failed to make the final. With the absence of Linda Mackenzie, Kylie Palmer and Meagan Nay, the team was never in medal contention, finishing 5th. Rice retained her 400 IM record however finished with a bronze in the final. She was awarded a silver medal for her contributions in the medley relay heats.
Awards won by Stephanie Rice
- World Swimmer of the Year 2008
- Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year 2008
- Australian Swimmer of the Year 2008
- Medal of the Order of Australia on 26th January 2009
- Won season 3 of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia 2013
Swimming World Records held
- Women’s 200 metre individual medley world record holder (long course) 25 March 2008 – 26 July 2009
- Women’s 400 metre individual medley world record holder (long course) 22 March 2008 – 29 June 2008
- Women’s 400 metre individual medley world record holder (long course) 10 August 2008 – 28 July 2012
Olympic and Commonwealth Championship won by Stephanie Rice
- Olympic Champions in Women’s 200 m Individual Medley 2008
- Olympic Champions in Women’s 400 m Individual Medley 2008
- Olympic Champions in Women’s 4×200 m Freestyle Relay 2008
- Commonwealth Champions in Women’s 200 m Individual Medley 2006
- Commonwealth Champions in Women’s 400 m Individual Medley 2006
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Stephanie Rice is Triple Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, world record holder Women’s 200 & 400 meter individual and winner of numerous other honors and awards. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Beginning at just 17 years of age you won gold in the 200 & 400 Individual Medley at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Then you reached the pinnacle of success by winning 200m, 400m, and 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay at 2008 Summer Olympics with World Records. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
There were a number of factors that contributed to my success as an athlete. Most importantly is my coach Michael Bohl, we have a fantastic relationship built on trust and we understand each other. He knew how to push me to get the best out of myself, but also knew when to back off. Commonwealth Games in 2006 was the confidence boost and exposure I needed to lead in to the Olympics. I started training much harder after 2006 not only in the pool but in the gym and made sure that I was doing everything possible to do the best I could in Beijing…such as Diet, Cross Training and Recovery.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
Apart from the 5hrs a day I did training in the pool, I also did 30mins of dry land exercises such as core strengthening work, pilates, stretching, plyometric exercises and running.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
Yes. I ate the same food every day at the same time. I was very strict and regimented. I ate eggs, gluten free toast, brown rice and tuna or some form of seafood and lots of veggies and fruit. As well as my post-training recovery nutrition which was usually a banana, protein shake and a sports drink.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to our inspiring and budding professional swimming girls who all are your fans, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the field of swimming ?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
I believe that all great athletes are born with a talent but it’s about combining that natural talent with a lot of hard work and making sure you have a great network around you, being surrounded by people that support and encourage you. But most importantly, enjoy what you do, because if you don’t really love what your doing then its very hard to get to the top. I believe in following your heart!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel after your memorable wins of three gold medals (each in world record time) in the 200 m and 400 m individual medleys and in the 4 × 200 meter freestyle at Beijing Summer Olympics 2008?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
It was the best moment so far in my life. I still don’t think it has really sunk in!! Everything happened so fast in Beijing and I didnt really get a chance to stop and reflect on what I have achieved. I worked so hard to achieve those results so the feeling at the time was more relief than anything else but now I feel extremely proud and so thankful to everyone else who helped me get there.
Stephanie Rice on Women Fitness:
Thank you for the support over the years!!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
It is known that you had fought back in competitions with sheer determination against all odds and returned to win. How you were able to overcome mental block when your are trailing and then reverse the final outcome of the race in your favor and what advice you can give to fellow swimmer person in a similar situation?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
I guess its something that I was born with!! I am able to tap into another level of determination and energy than most people. It was something that I practiced everyday in training. When I was behind, always pushing that bit harder for the last 10m into the wall. I also never want to finish a race with the feeling of regret that I could have gone that little bit harder.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In September 2010 you underwent surgery on your right shoulder to remove an inflamed bursa. What was your fitness regime for recovery after such a nightmare event in the life of a sportsperson ?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
It was really hard for me to take time off after surgery. I had to change my training regime for 4 months until my shoulder had healed. I was doing a lot of cross training, such as running, spin class, leg exercises and abb work as well as kicking in the pool to try and stay fit and then build into swimming very slowly. My days were very inconsistent and every day was different which was frustrating for me because I thrive on positive momentum.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of swimming ?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
Most definitely my coach Michael Bohl…He is my mentor!! Aside from that I am very inspired by Serena Williams, she is my favourite athlete to watch and I admire her determination and continual success…only the best of the best can win back to back competitions like that.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Stephanie Rice:
Thank you for the support over the years!! I also am launching my new website stephanierice.com which has a large fitness and wellness focus. I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to regularly try out different types of work outs and fitness regimes as well as my usual workouts such as yoga, running and Pilates. I would love for you to check out my site and hopefully it inspires you to try something new 🙂
Check out the latest on Stephanie Rice at https://www.facebook.com/ItsStephRice,https://twitter.com/itsstephrice and http://instagram.com/itsstephrice
Women Fitness Team thanks Stephanie Rice for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and also Lauren Braid and Serena from Stephanie Rice Team who made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.