The focus on Leisel Jones’ body shape, and perceived lack of fitness, is nothing new for our swimmers.
During the 1976 Montreal Olympics, a cartoon appeared in the Australian press of the darling Australian swimmer of the time, Jenny Turrell.
The 16-year-old Turrell was depicted on the blocks with a piece of cake while her opponent, the American winner of the race, was with the gold medal. The depiction of Turrell was one of a large girl and that of the American, very fit and trim.
Turrell had been the teenage wonder kid of Australian swimming during its golden age of the early 1970s. She had set world 800 metre record at age 14 and had held it to only six weeks prior to the Montreal games.
Although she has lost the record she was still expected to at least medal in the event. She finished last, with a time 9.40 seconds slower than her former world record.
Turrell herself even admitted at he time she was overweight and retired from the sport altogether in November 1976, citing that she could no longer keep her weight under control and she had lost her motivation.
At such a tender age you could understand her torment and it is nothing knew for maturing teenage girls to battle her weight in the mid teens.
Her retirement at 16 echoed that of Shane Gould and Stephen Holland, who both gave it away during their teens when they were still in their prime. It was unheard of then, of swimmers continuing into their 20s, as we see now with Leisel at a mature age of 26 in comparison.
The original ‘Superfish’ Stephen Holland also copped the wrath of the Australian press and public for his ‘failure’ in Montreal for ‘only’ winning a bronze in his pet 1500 metres, to which he had set multiple world records in the three years prior.
His career had captured the country’s imagination even to the point where he had a pop song written and recorded about him.
The vitriol that followed his bronze medal, at a games where Australia failed to win a gold medal, hurt him deeply and he walked away from the sport.
For Jones, there is only one way to silence any such image scrutiny and that is with her performance in the pool this coming week.
It is only hoped she does not suffer the same fate as Turrell.
Ken
Guest
When I was 9yo aussie kid back in 1976 my primary school wheeled a b&w television set into one of the classrooms and we all crammed into the classroom to watch Stephen Holland compete in the 1500m freestyle final. This was the first olympic event I seriously watched on television or otherwise in my life. I was thrilled at Stephen Holland competing in the race and was slightly disappointed that he didn't win the race considering he broke the world record in the race and was only just bettered by 2 americans by about 2 seconds. When he stood on the dais to receive the bronze medal (the only medal for Australia in the pool that olympics) I was very proud of him. I was inspired to start swimming not by the americans who received the gold and silver medals, but by Stephen Holland, because he was an aussie. He was one of us. Today - at 45yo - I swim 2-3 1500s a week and have done so for the past 30-odd years. This has kept me healthy and active and in shape. My parents didn't motivate me to swim. My teachers didn't motivate me to swim, or my friends, or siblings or Dawn Fraser or Shane Gould or Ian Thorpe or others. Stephen Holland did. He performed on the world stage and was awarded an olympic medal just at the right time for a 9yo aussie kid to be impressed and inspired. The 17 olympics post-WW2 Australia has never failed to medal in the pool. An unbroken stretch. For the 8 years between 1972 and 1980 this unbroken stretch was kept alive with the barest of the bare - a solitary bronze medal by Stephen Holland at the 1976 Montreal games. A solitary bronze medal - but the unbroken stretch was kept alive. So in the darkest of times for Australia in the olympics during 1976 - WE STILL BROUGHT A MEDAL HOME FROM THE POOL. And Stephen Holland inspired at least one aussie (myself) to swim and stay healthy and active during his life. Stephen Holland - bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle 1976 Montral Olympics - a treasured accomplishment in our national sporting heritage.
Jharris
Guest
She's obviously fit enough to be competing otherwise she wouldn't have made it past the qualifiers. Whether she's fit enough to win remains to be seen. But, you can't just rock up to The Olympics, the most elite sporting event on the planet, with a few extra pounds and not expect anyone to comment. Of course people are going to talk. And it's not sexist. If one of the male swimmers put on weight like Jones has people would comment on it just the same...
yewonk
Guest
who wrote that article
Stevo
Guest
Well said Bru Baker. While it might be more politically correct to sit back and say "Good Luck Leisel", anyone remotely involved in high performance sport can see that unfortunately Leisel has let herself go in terms of hard training and comittment to the Australian Olympic Team. We all have enjoyed watching Leisel (and the other stars) perform so well and win medals at Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games over the past decade. That is why it is such a shock to see Leisel turn up so out of shape this time. The increased money and sponsorship that is available to elite sports people these days has seen many try to prolong their careers to take advantage of these opportunities. That is fine, so long as they are still good enough, plus they take the responsibility seriously. The focus will be on Leisel's times in the breastroke - not whether she wins a medal. We hope she comes through OK and does not embarrass both herself and our proud nation.
Johnno
Guest
-Just newspapers wanting to sell a few papers $$$$ to make some money.
Hoy
Roar Guru
There is no doubt that at the last olympics, her and Trickett looked in peak physical condition. In fact, I think the thought of doping reared up, because they looked so much fitter and stronger than their opponents. The pictures shown recently sure don't make Liesel look in peak physical condition. If she wins, she can stick it up everyone really, and rightly so. If she loses...? The Grill Team in Brisbane was giving it to her pretty badly yesterday on radio about how out of shape she looked, but also how she didn't seem to focussed on the events. I had to laugh when Giann Rooney was defending Jones, saying "When you have swum for your country, you can make a comment"... to which Marto said "Excuse , I have played for my state and country..." Giann picked the wrong person and argument there. It is cruel, and I feel for Jones. But the proof will be in the pudding, possibly literally. If she wins, good on her. If she loses, well...
Betty B
Guest
she looked pretty trim at the trials. Doubt if she's put on weight since then. Photoshop?
mushi
Guest
Bru she still had to beat people to get there right? She's still a world class swimmer at 27. So she can basically say "hey Bru even though you think I'm fat and unmotivated I am SO much better at this than you are and ever will be at anything in your life, anything"
Bondy
Guest
It will unfortunately always be the same for sportswomen in the western world at least, i'd strongly suggest theres a male shooter or male equestrian rider for Australia running around the Olympic village with man breasts but nobody cares although there are journalists creeping round a swimming pool disecting photos of still young women potentially looking for body fat.Its a strange old world we live in.
k77sujith
Roar Guru
Hi Jocelyn, a very well documented write-up here. As for Jones, like you, I feel this is an outright media beat-up. She's never sported a stringbean-like figure and it's unfortunate that the media has come up with this story at such a crucial stage. What works against Jones is the fact that she happens to be a woman and women are always scrutinized about weight in society. Yes, male sportsmen are questioned as well but it's a lot more destructive when the target happens to be someone from the fairer sex. I'm still gunning for her to prove her critics wrong. She's got great potential as many experts claim and one can only hope that she doesn't get affected by this sparring story. It's hard though to keep this out of your head when competing. Time will tell. Thanks.
Bru Baker
Guest
I thought elite, professional athletes were meant to train hard and be in tip-top condition for their Olympic events. After all, they do receive generous financial grants from the Australian Government, which is tax-payers money. Photos don't lie, I'm afraid Leisel looks like she'll really struggle to be competitive in the pool this week, which is such a pity after her impressive career. If she's this fat at 27 while in full training mode, what will she look like at 40? Incidentially, my wife was about the same shape as Leisel at age 27, but she was 6 months pregnant. I hope Ms Jones proves the critics wrong but doubt whether she has given herself any chance this time around. She chose not to attend the Australian team's pre-Olympic camp in Montpellier earlier this month, claiming she would get homesick. What a joke missing such an important team training camp just prior to the Olympics. Would she get homesick being away from McDonalds? Leisel's obvious lack of fitness is an embarrassment to Australia and makes us the laughing stock of the world. Sack the swimming coaches as well for allowing her to eat pizzas every night. Is it too late for her to switch events from the breaststroke to weightlifting?