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Shane Gould talks on a sports champion's qualities, 2008

TLF ID R10247

This is an edited sound recording of the former champion Australian swimmer Shane Gould talking about what is required to be a champion sportsperson. Gould suggests a high degree of all-round activity is needed at a young age to produce good physical development prior to specialisation in a particular sport. She says that successful sportspeople must be willing to train hard, have a desire to constantly improve performance, and have perseverance. Finally, she says, they must love competing.

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In this recording, Shane Gould (1956-) emphasises the importance of enjoying sport, suggesting that the ideal athletic preparation for children up to the age of about 12 or 13 is to play and experiment with a wide range of physical activities. She recommends that children play in nature as much as possible, taking part in outdoor activities such as beach swimming, BMX riding, cross-country running, climbing trees, fishing and wading through creeks.
Gould alludes to the physical and mental difficulties of adhering to a training program. She states that it can be hard work, resulting in sore muscles and tiredness, and there can be a temptation to give up training to join friends who are doing other things. Gould suggests that young people should never give up training in the middle of a season, as they may find they get over a 'hump' that is causing them to lose interest.
Within two years of entering international competition in 1971, Gould became the first person, man or woman, to hold all world freestyle records from 100 m to 1,500 m simultaneously. She had first gained international attention when she equalled the women's 100 m freestyle world record in 1971, then broke world records in the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1,500 m freestyle.
Gould won five individual medals representing Australia at the Olympics Games in Munich, in what was then West Germany, in 1972. She won gold medals in the 200 m individual medley, and in the 200 m and 400 m freestyle events, all in world-record time, and one silver and one bronze medal in other events. She was named Australian of the Year in 1972.

Topics Exercise Competition (Human relations) Animal products Sports Persistence

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Person: Shane Gould
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Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
Organization: Education Services Australia Ltd
Description: Content provider
Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/

Name: Education Services Australia
Organization: Education Services Australia
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Person: Shane Gould
Description: Author

Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
Organization: Education Services Australia Ltd
Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/

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Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
Organization: Education Services Australia Ltd
Description: Publisher
Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/

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Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
Address: AUSTRALIA
URL: www.esa.edu.au

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