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|
| Kareena
LEE |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
Australia
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 16 Dec 1993
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Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Noosa, QLD, AUS |
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Noosa Swimming Club: Australia |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Education - University of the Sunshine Coast: Australia |
General Interest |
Injuries |
She suffered an injury to her right knee in January 2018 that required her to wear a brace. She returned to competition three weeks later. (Instagram profile, 26 Jan 2018)
She broke a rib after she was kicked when racing at the 2015 World Cup event in Chun'an, People's Republic of China. (openwaterswimming.com, 10 Mar 2021)
She collapsed following the women's 10km race at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russian Federation, due to a combination of asthma, dehydration and hypothermia. She was briefly hospitalised and withdrew from her remaining race at the championships, but made a full recovery. (smh.com.au, 30 Jul 2015) |
Other sports |
She has also competed in pool swimming at national level in Australia, including in the 1500m freestyle. (myswimresults.com.au, 15 Aug 2018) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
"I did my first open water swim in 2012 when I was 18. From then I just wanted to try it again and gain more experience and I think I've gotten better with each time." |
General Interest |
Awards and honours |
She was named an Honouree of the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020/21. (openwaterswimming.com, 10 Mar 2021)
In 2018 and 2019 she was named Swimming Australia's Open Water Swimmer of the Year. (hansonmediagroup.com.au, 28 Oct 2018; smh.com.au, 25 Nov 2019) |
Sport Specific Information |
Name of coach |
John Rodgers [club] |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She took part in surf lifesaving as a child, and began focusing on swimming training in 2011. "I didn't concentrate on swimming until I was 17, so [surf lifesaving] was my main sport." |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
English |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"When someone says you can't do it, do it twice and take a picture." (noosatoday.com.au, 30 Jan 2020) |
Other information |
OLYMPIC REDEMPTION
After being overlooked for selection for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro she considered retiring from competition. However, after being selected for the 2020 Games in Tokyo, she went on to win bronze in the 10km event at the Games. "After just missing out on Rio I wasn't too sure if I was going to continue the sport. I had a bit of a break and a long think about it, and I knew I wouldn't be happy within myself if I left the sport. My heart was still in it and I really didn't want to leave on a low, so I knuckled down and I trained very, very hard. I'm obviously really happy I didn't leave. My first Olympics. Coming away with a medal, I'm so stoked, it's unbelievable." (7news.com.au, 04 Aug 2021; sls.com.au, 16 Oct 2019)
FUTURE PLANS
She graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in primary education, intending to pursue a career as a teacher once she retires from swimming. "I didn't really put too much thought into what I actually wanted to do so I just kind of thought sport and exercise science, but I realised that wasn't really the path for me. Whilst I was studying, I was also helping out at my swim club and I was doing a bit of learn to swim teaching as well and I kind of felt a passion around teaching and helping out kids and everything. That's kind of where it started and then studying it and doing pracs, I fell in love with it. After I finish swimming, I just want to dive into the classroom and start teaching - having my own class, that would be so awesome. I think it's really important because we're stuck in this big routine when we're a swimmer and then suddenly it's gone. It's so important to have something to fall back on and another passion to follow and that's what I did." (thewest.com.au, 04 Aug 2021; swimming.org.au, 17 May 2021; Instagram profile, 11 Apr 2019) |
Hobbies |
Reading, shopping. (swimming.org.au, 17 Dec 2019) |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Partner Callum |
General Interest |
Milestones |
She became the first athlete representing Australia to win a medal in open water swimming at the Olympic Games when she claimed bronze in the women's 10km event at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Jan 2022; swimming.org.au, 04 Aug 2021; smh.com.au, 04 Aug 2021) |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 7 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
10km |
1:54:50.5 |
| 5 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
5km - Team Relay |
54:36.8 |
| 10 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km |
59:28.9 |
| 19 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
10km |
2:02:08.1 |
| 4 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km - Team Relay |
54:42.9 |
| 20 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
10km |
1:59:32.8 |
World Series |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 18 |
2022 |
|
10km |
|
| 5 |
2022 |
Paris, FRA |
10km |
2:00:37.52 |
| |
2020 |
|
10km |
|
| 7 |
2020 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
1:56:43.9 |
| 6 |
2019 |
|
10km |
|
| 6 |
2019 |
Beau Vallon, SEY |
10km |
2:01:55.70 |
| 2 |
2019 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
2:03:52.0 |
| 4 |
2019 |
Nantou, TPE |
10km |
2:02:40.3 |
| 13 |
2018 |
|
10km |
|
| 5 |
2018 |
Balatonfüred, HUN |
10km |
2:05:57.00 |
| 13 |
2018 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
2:02:34.3 |
| 3 |
2018 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:05:22.25 |
| 59 |
2017 |
|
10km |
|
| 11 |
2017 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:53:11.3 |
| 13 |
2016 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:58:57.70 |
| 14 |
2015 |
San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX |
10km |
1:48:42.00 |
| 5 |
2014 |
Qiandaohu, CHN |
10km |
2:06:18.16 |
| 14 |
2014 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:05:48.0 |
Pan Pacific Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2018 |
Tokyo, JPN |
10km |
2:08:26.0 |
| 4 |
2014 |
Maui, HI, USA |
10km |
1:59:56.0 |
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