Belinda Hocking facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | "Bindy" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 14 September 1990 Wangaratta, Victoria |
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| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kg (123 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Backstroke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Nunawading | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Rohan Taylor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Belinda Hocking is a retired Australian swimmer. She was known for her amazing backstroke skills. Belinda was also part of the Australian Institute of Sport, which helps talented athletes train and become their best.
Contents
Belinda's Swimming Journey
Early Career and First Big Races
Belinda started swimming when she was just four years old. By December 2007, she was already competing in big events. At the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships, she placed fifth in the 200-metre backstroke. She also won a gold medal in a relay race at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii.
In 2007, Belinda also showed her talent at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney. She won gold medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke races. She also helped her team win gold in the 4×100-metre medley relay.
Competing in the Olympics
Belinda Hocking qualified for her first Olympic Games in 2008. She competed in Beijing, China, and finished eighth in the 200-metre backstroke. That same year, she won silver and bronze medals at the Australian Swimming Championships. She also set a Commonwealth record in the 50-metre backstroke at the FINA World Short Course Championships.
Belinda returned to the Olympics in 2012, competing in London. She swam in both the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke events. She finished seventh in the 100-metre race and tenth in the 200-metre race.
Her final Olympic appearance was at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She placed fifth in the 200-metre backstroke, showing her consistent performance at the highest level.
World Championships and Other Successes
Belinda also achieved great success at the World Aquatics Championships.
- In 2011 in Shanghai, she won two silver medals in the 200-metre backstroke. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay.
- In 2013 in Barcelona, she won another silver medal in the 200-metre backstroke.
She also shined at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships:
- In 2010, she won a bronze medal in the 200-metre backstroke.
- In 2014, she won a gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke and a silver in the 100-metre backstroke.
Commonwealth Games Achievements
The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were a big highlight for Belinda.
- She won two gold medals! One was for the 200-metre backstroke.
- The other gold was for the 4×100-metre medley relay.
- She set new Commonwealth Games records in both of these events.
- She also added a bronze medal in the 100-metre backstroke.
Taking a Break and Retirement
In 2015, Belinda had to take a break from swimming due to several injuries. These included a shoulder injury that needed surgery, a dislocated knee, and a burn. During this time, she also started studying to become a primary school teacher.
Belinda Hocking officially announced her retirement from competitive swimming on March 3, 2017.
About Belinda's Life
Belinda was born in Wangaratta, Victoria. She went to St. Bernard's Catholic Primary School in Wangaratta. Later, she trained at the Nunawading Swimming Club, where she developed her amazing swimming skills.
See also
In Spanish: Belinda Hocking para niños
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
