Samantha Riley facts for kids

Samantha Linette Pearl Riley is a famous Australian swimmer. She was born on November 13, 1972. Samantha is known for her amazing skills in breaststroke swimming. She is also a proud Indigenous Australian.

Samantha represented Australia in two Summer Olympics. These were the 1992 Games in Barcelona and the 1996 Games in Atlanta. She won three medals for her country. She trained at the Commercial Swimming Club in Brisbane. Samantha made history as the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic medal.

Samantha Riley's Swimming Career

Early Start and First Medals

When Samantha was a child, doctors suggested she start swimming. This was to help her with asthma. She quickly became very good at it. In 1991, she joined the Australian team. She competed at the World Championships in Perth. There, she won a silver medal in the medley relay race.

The next year, Samantha went to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She won a bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke event. She also competed in the 200-meter breaststroke.

Becoming a World Champion

The year 1994 was a huge success for Samantha. She won both breaststroke events at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. These games were held in Victoria, Canada. She then did the same thing at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy.

At the World Championships, she set a new world record. She swam the 100-meter breaststroke in just 1 minute and 7.69 seconds! Because of her amazing achievements, Swimming World magazine named her the Female World Swimmer of the Year.

Olympic Success and Later Career

Samantha continued her winning streak in 1995. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, she earned another bronze medal. This was for the 100-meter breaststroke. She also won a silver medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay. She swam with her teammates Nicole Stevenson, Susie O'Neill, and Sarah Ryan.

After 1996, Samantha did not win individual medals at the world level. However, she remained an important part of the Australian swimming team. Many people hoped she would return to her best for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. But a kidney infection affected her training. She decided to retire soon after. Samantha was Australia's most successful female breaststroke swimmer in the 1990s.

Samantha Riley's Personal Life

Samantha Riley has had an interesting life outside of swimming. At one point in the mid-1990s, she was engaged to Johann Olav Koss. He was an Olympic champion speedskater from Norway. She was also engaged to rugby league player Julian O'Neill.

A major road in Kellyville, New South Wales is named after her. It is called Samantha Riley Drive. The Australian Olympic Committee has also recognized her. They included her in their list of Australian Indigenous Olympians.

In March 2023, it was reported that Samantha had separated from her husband of 22 years. He was former Ironman champion Tim Fydler. They have three children together.

See also

In Spanish: Samantha Riley para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
• List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (women)
• World record progression 100 metres breaststroke
• World record progression 200 metres breaststroke