Leisel jones autobiography template
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Aussie Leisel Jones Releases Book On Her Battle With Depression
Now-retired Australian breaststroking champion, Leisel Jones, shares stories of how she battled depression, thoughts of suicide, even while on top of her game. Archive photo via Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com
When one thinks of Australian swimming glory, names such as Michael Klim, Grant Hackett, Kieren Perkins, Susie O’Neill and Leisel Jones come to mind. Jones, who claimed 3 Olympic golds and numerous Commonwealth Games and World Championships medals over her 12-year career, was just 15 years old when she swam at the 2000 Olympic Games in her home country. Yet she went on to earn two silver medals that year, followed by gold in both Beijing and London before retiring in 2012. After legendary Ian Thorpe, Jones holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by an Australian swimmer.
But in a new book she just released entitled “Body Lengths”, Jones describes how this journey into the limelight wa
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AustLit
'Leisel Jones is rightly regarded as one of the greatest breaststrokers ever. At just fifteen, she won two silver medals at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000; she went on to win gold at Athens and Beijing, and at London 2012 became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympics.
'For the first time, Leisel candidly describes what it's like to be thrust into the limelight so young. She reveals the constant pressure she was under – from coaches, from the media and from herself – to be perfect. Despite the highs of her swimming stardom, she suffered depression, and at one time planned to take her own life. In London, criticised in the media for her weight, and appalled by the bulling and dysfunction in the Australian swim team, Leisel nevertheless handled herself with great composure. She has emerged with maturity and good humour, having finally learnt how to be herself and live with confidence.
'Body Lengths is the inspiring story of an Australian sporting hero,
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5 Memoirs That All Swimmers Should Read
By Proteeti Sinha, Swimming World College Intern.
We all can agree that swimming fryst vatten the best sport in the world. We also know that many athletes enjoy reading as a way to enrich their minds and draw inspiration. What better way to engage with your favorite sport while motivating yourself to achieve your goals than bygd reading books about swimming, written bygd swimmers?
With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics quickly approaching, here are fem memoirs from Olympic champions that all swimmers should read!
1. Making Waves: My Journey to Winning Olympic Gold and Defeating the East German Doping Program, by Chris Epting and Shirley Babashoff
Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics – the height of the East German doping scandal – Shirley Babashoff won fem medals: kvartet silver and one gold. In her memoir, she talks about her suspicions about the East German women who had deep voices, seemed masculine and barely looked