The official website of Shane Gould Australian Sports Legend

Shane has always loved to swim and race. She received unprecedented national and international fame for her achievements, overwhelming for a child athlete of that era, which caused her to withdraw from competitive swimming when she was 17, something her fans couldn't understand. Shane swims for intrinsic reasons, so the meaning of it is more important than the prizes and fame. As a mature woman she is involved marketing, public speaking, writing, photography, film making and a portfolio of business interests. Her 2024 book Sports Career Transition is a guide for athletes who retire and have difficulty coping with life after sport. It is partly autobiographical. 

  
Shane had a unique private family life for 22 years, raising 4 children, now adults with children (8 grandchildren), living a sustainable lifestyle on a farm in southwestern Australia. She raised commercial animals, trained horses, grew food gardens and was active in the Margaret River community in schools, sport and community issues. Her autobiography Tumble Turns 1998 describes her life on the land and her great swimming achievements. The book is out of print but is planned to be made into an audio book in 2025 and partially reprinted as an ebook.

You might find an original paper copy secondhand or in a library.

Shane values health and continues to maintain a vigorous and high level of fitness and strength for her 68 years which allows her to bodysurf, ride horses and enjoy ocean swims with friends. She has a strong belief that daily experiences in nature are vital for overall human development, wellbeing and vitality. 

  
Shane’s philanthropic works include actions with charities for environmental conservation such as The Great Southern Reef and improving physical human health and well-being through activity in and out of the water. Together with her husband Milt Nelms, they work on helping people overcome their fear of water and in drowning prevention actions such as www.floattosurvive.au and World Aquatic Development Conference in Sweden.