Stephanie Louise Rice, OAM, is an Australian former professional swimmer who has had an impressive career in the sport. She achieved great success by winning three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the Order of Australia on 26 January 2009. However, after a successful career, she announced her retirement on 9 April 2014.
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- Full Name: Stephanie Louise Rice
- Stage Name: Stephanie Rice
- Date of birth: June 17, 1988
- Age: 35 years old
- Place of birth: Brisbane, Australia
- Australian citizenship
- Occupation: Former Australian professional swimmer
- Height: 1.76 m
- Parents: Raelene Clark and Warren Rice
- Siblings: 2, Mitchell and Coutenay
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: None
- Single status
- Net worth: $3 million AUD
Early life and education
Stephanie Louise Rice, OAM, was born on June 17, 1988 in Brisbane, Australia. She was raised by her parents, Raelene Clark and Warren Rice, and grew up with two siblings: a half-brother named Mitchell and a half-sister named Coutenay, due to her mother’s remarriage.
Rice attended Clayfield College in Brisbane, Queensland, where she excelled in both academics and swimming. She became a three-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in swimming.
Career
Stephanie Louise Rice achieved legendary status at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At just 20 years old, she won three gold medals and became part of Australia’s elite swimming championship team.
Her dominance was evident in both the 200m and 400m individual medley events, as she set world records in each event.
But perhaps her most surprising victory came when she led her underdog teammates in the 4x200m freestyle relay, where they broke the world record and stunned the better-rated teams of the United States and China.
Rice’s success came quickly, and her performance at the 2008 Olympics cemented her place as one of the greatest swimmers in Australian history.
Rice asserted her dominance as a teenager, winning multiple medals at the Australian Under-age Championships. Her success continued at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, where she won gold medals in the 200m and 400m individual medley.
Rice also achieved a podium finish at the 2007 Melbourne World Championships when he won a bronze medal in the 200m individual medley.
In 2009, she was awarded the Order of Australia for her outstanding achievements. Rice retired from competitive swimming in 2014 after a successful career.
Her legacy is not limited to medals alone, her achievements at the 2008 Olympics will always be remembered in Australian sporting history.
Awards and appointments
- Olympic Gold Medals: Rice’s proudest achievement was her three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She won the 200m and 400m individual medley, both world records, and also led Australia to gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
- World Swimmer of the Year: In 2008, Swimming World magazine recognized her dominance by naming her World Swimmer of the Year.
- Order of Australia (OAM): In 2009, she was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia in recognition of her contributions to sport through her achievements at the 2008 Olympics.
- Hall of Fame Induction: Her swimming legacy was further cemented when she was inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame (2019) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (2019).
Social Media
- Instagram Name: @itsstephrice
- Facebook Name: Stephanie Rice
Personal life
Stephanie Louise Rice has had a number of high-profile relationships with other athletes. She dated Australian Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan for two years before splitting after they both won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
She was later rumored to be dating swimmers Michael Phelps and Nick D’Arcy, but these rumors were never confirmed. She then dated rugby star Quade Cooper for a year before their relationship ended in 2011.
Stephanie’s success in the sports world often makes people interested in her personal life, but she remains focused on her career.
Her most recent relationship was with veteran Dane Christison, whom she met through their mutual church affiliation.
After dedicating their lives to God and following His call to move to Dubai, they met at their church in Brisbane and spent their first Christmas together in New York. However, their relationship unfortunately ended, as Stephanie deleted photos of them from her Instagram page.
Net asset value
Stephanie Rice achieved great success in the world of professional swimming by winning three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and breaking several world records.
Despite her impressive career and estimated net worth of $3 million AUD, she has faced criticism and controversy for her behaviour both in and out of the pool. Despite these challenges, she remains a highly respected and accomplished athlete.
