Australian Dolphins swim team’s Alicia Coutts bows out in individual racing at the Rio Olympic Games

RECORD equalling Olympian Alicia Coutts bowed out of individual international swimming today with a gallant fifth placing in the final of the 200m Medley at the Rio Olympic Games.

Alicia Coutts in action in Rio. Picture: Alex Coppel.

An emotional Alicia Coutts bowed out of individual international swimming today by finishing fifth in the 200m medley final at the Rio Olympic Games.

The stoic Coutts was third after the butterfly leg, fourth following backstroke, faded to sixth in the breaststroke leg but came home strongly in the freestyle (2:10.88).

“I am really happy. I did the best I could,’’ she told Channel 7 after the race.

“I did not want to leave anything in the tank.’’

Coutts thanked her coach John Fowlie and her mother Julie for their support.

“Mum has been my rock. Thank you for supporting me,’’ she said, fighting back the tears.

She said it was a “sad feeling’’ to end her swimming career but “it is nice to know I made it this far’’.

“I am proud of my achievements.’’

The gallant performance was her third successful appearance in an Olympic 200m Individual Medley final after placing fifth in 2008 and second in 2012.

Rio Olympics 2016. The Heats of the swimming on day 03, at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Alicia Coutts after the heats of the WomenÕs 200m Individual Medley. Picture: Alex Coppel. Picture: Alex Coppel.

She overcame a shoulder injury to compete in Rio.

Coutts was at the peak of her powers between 2011 and 2013 when, over two world championships and the 2012 London Olympic Games, she claimed one gold medal, 10 silver and two bronze.

Indeed she became the corner stone of the Australian swimming team post the glittering era of Libby Lenton, Leisel Jones, Jess Schipper, Jodie Henry and Petria Thomas.

Wedged between those five female champions and the current crop led by the Campbell sisters, Coutts was the flagship of the Dolphins.

When all was falling down around her during Australia’s disastrous 2012 London Olympics swimming campaign, Coutts stood tall in defiance.

Unperturbed by higher profile team mates imploding, Coutts netted five medals in London and in doing so scratched her name into the record books alongside the imperious Shane Gould (five gold, Munich, 1972) and untouchable champion Ian Thorpe (three gold, two silver, Sydney, 2000).

As tiny tot, aged 10, Coutts received inspiration from meeting Madam Butterfly, the legendary Susie O’Neill, at the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Australian swimming great Susie O'Neill with a young Alicia Coutts at the 1999 Pan Pacs.

Two years ago O’Neill told the Albert & Logan News in relation to the meeting: “It’s actually quite funny because you could never tell looking back on it that she was going to be such a phenomenal athlete.’’

Coutts recalled of the meeting: “I always wanted to be just like her and to meet her and get my photo with her was the most amazing experience,” she said.

“She was so nice and humble and that is something I have tried to be in my ­swimming career. She was such a great role model for me.’’

Little did Coutts know years later she would be a “great role model” and provide inspiration to her current team mates and next generation.

Andy Poynter, the Chisholm Catholic College sports academy co-ordinator, where Coutts went to school, said the swimmer’s legacy remained.

“Some of the kids involved in swimming look up to her,’’ Poynter said.

“But it is not just the swimmers that look up to her.

“It is all different sporting students at the school — they think there is no reason that they cannot do that in their sport.’’

Coutts deserves to enter swimming retirement with the champion mantle embedded beside her name.

Her London Olympic performance is one of the greatest sporting achievements by an international athletic, let alone a woman who as a little girl growing up in Queensland dared to dream.

Originally published as Australian Dolphins swim team’s Alicia Coutts bows out in individual racing at the Rio Olympic Games