Samantha Riley facts for kids

Samantha Linette Pearl Riley (born on November 13, 1972) is a famous Australian swimmer. She is known for her amazing skills in breaststroke swimming. Samantha is also an Indigenous Australian, meaning she is from the original people of Australia. She made history by being the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic medal.

Samantha competed for Australia in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She won three medals during her Olympic career. She trained at the Commercial Swimming Club in Brisbane.

Samantha's Swimming Journey

Early Start and First Medals

Samantha started swimming as a child to help with her asthma. This early start helped her become a strong swimmer. In 1991, she joined the Australian team for the World Championships. She won a silver medal in the medley relay event.

The next year, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Samantha won a bronze medal. This was for the 100-meter breaststroke race. She also competed in the 200-meter breaststroke event.

World Records and Top Swimmer Award

In 1994, Samantha had a fantastic year. She won both breaststroke events at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada. She then repeated this success at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships in Italy. There, she set a new world record in the 100-meter breaststroke. Her time was 1 minute, 07.69 seconds.

Because of her incredible achievements, Swimming World magazine named her the Female World Swimmer of the Year. This is a very special award for swimmers.

Olympic Challenges and More Medals

Samantha continued to win many races in 1995. However, before the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, she faced a challenge. She had accidentally taken a headache pill that contained a substance not allowed in sports. Her coach explained that he had given her the pill. Samantha was cleared of any wrongdoing because it was an accident.

Despite this pressure, Samantha still performed well at the Olympics. She earned another bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke. She also won a silver medal as part of the 4x100-meter relay team. Her teammates were Nicole Stevenson, Susie O'Neill, and Sarah Ryan.

After 1996, Samantha continued to be a strong part of the Australian team. She was a very successful breaststroke swimmer throughout the 1990s. She retired from swimming after facing a kidney infection that affected her training.

Samantha's Life Outside the Pool

Samantha Riley has had an interesting life beyond her swimming career. She was once engaged to Johann Olav Koss, an Olympic champion speedskater from Norway. She also has three children.

A street in Kellyville, New South Wales is named Samantha Riley Drive in her honor. The Australian Olympic Committee also recognizes her as one of Australia's important Indigenous Olympians.

See also

In Spanish: Samantha Riley para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (women)