Alicia Coutts Reaches Her Last End Wall After A Stellar Leap As Dolphin

Moving on…

Five-time Olympic medallist as the most medalled Dolphin of the past two Games and eight-time Commonwealth Games champion Alicia Coutts is waving farewell to her racing days in the pool after an illustrious swimming career that ended at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The most successful Australian swimmer at the London 2012 Games two years after a stellar breakthrough at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, the 29-year-old has five Olympic, eight World Championship, six Pan Pacific and nine Commonwealth Games medals in a treasury of 28 international podium places.

Reflecting on her career, Coutts said:

“I have spent such a large part of my life on the Australian Swim Team and over the years I have made so many amazing friends and met teammates that have become like family to me. It will be sad not to be racing and to not to be a part of this amazing team but I am honoured to have been able to represent my country for such a long time and the Australian Swim Team will forever be a part of my heart.”

She had plaudits for those who made the journey with her and supported her throughout:

“I couldn’t have achieved so much in my career without the unwavering support of my mum (Julie) and my husband, Steve. I want to thank my mum for all the years of sacrifices she made, my husband for his love and support and all of my family and friends for being there for me. I also want to thank my amazing coach John Fowlie who worked with me for ten years and helped me to constantly push my boundaries and expect more from myself.”

Alicia Coutts [Swimming Australia]

Coutts will be honoured at the Swimming Australia Gala Dinner, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday November 7,  for her services to the sport alongside 14 other recent retirees.

Coutts, from Brisbane in Queensland,  spent the bulk of her senior career at the Australian Institute of Sport. She moved there in 2006 and was soon under the guidance of coach John Fowlie.

Versatility was one of Coutt’s strengths, butterfly and medley backed up by freestyle good enough for solo challenges in Australia and places on successful Australian relays. She claimed 10  national long-course titles in four different events down the years. Her Olympic debut done in Beijing back in 2008, she went onto claim international medals in the 100m butterfly, 200m medley, 4×100 and 4x200m …

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