Born: 1983 (Brisbane, Queensland)
Biography:
Jodie Clare Henry, OAM, born on November 17, 1983, in Brisbane, Queensland, is a prominent Australian competitive swimmer, Olympic gold medallist, and former world-record holder. Despite starting her competitive swimming career relatively late at the age of 14, Henry quickly made her mark on the international stage with remarkable talent and determination.
In 1998, Henry demonstrated her exceptional abilities by representing Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. At this event, she showcased her immense potential by capturing an astonishing five gold medals. This early success laid the foundation for her future accomplishments in the sport.
Henry’s breakthrough came at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where she claimed victory in the women’s 100-meter freestyle. Additionally, she played an integral role in the Australian teams that triumphed in both the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and the 4×100-meter medley relay. Later that year, she secured silver medals at the Pan Pacific Championships in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events, further emphasizing her versatility.
Continuing her trajectory of success, Henry excelled at the 2003 FINA World Championships in Barcelona. She achieved silver in the 100-meter freestyle and added two bronze medals to her collection in both the 4×100-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter medley relays. Her outstanding performance at these championships earned her the prestigious title of Speedo female sprinter of the year.
The pinnacle of Henry’s career came at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She left an indelible mark on the swimming world by clinching gold in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay, contributing to a new world record time. In the individual 100-meter freestyle, Henry surpassed the previous world record set by her teammate Libby Lenton with an extraordinary time of 53.52 seconds. She became the first Australian to win gold in this event since Dawn Fraser accomplished the feat 40 years earlier.
Henry’s remarkable achievements did not end there. She anchored the Australian women’s 4×100-meter medley relay team, guiding them to yet another gold medal in a world record-breaking time. With her incredible performance, Henry secured a total of three gold medals and three world records at the Athens Olympics.
Recognizing her incredible contributions to Australian swimming, Henry was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004. She further cemented her status as a leading figure in the sport by being named the Australian Swimmer of the Year later that year. This honor marked the end of Ian Thorpe’s five-year reign as the recipient of this prestigious award. Additionally, Henry’s win in the 4×100-meter medley relay with her teammates – Petria Thomas, Giaan Rooney, and Leisel Jones – was voted as the Golden Moment of the Year.
Henry’s dedication and hard work led her to follow her coach, Shannon Rollason, after the 2004 Olympics. She continued to make significant contributions to swimming, both in and out of the pool, inspiring future generations of swimmers with her accomplishments.
Awards:
– Order of Australia Medal
– Australian Swimmer of the Year