 |
|
| Jessica
ASHWOOD |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
Australia
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 28 Apr 1993
in Sydney, AUS |
| Height | 1.73 m |
|
|
|
|
|
General Interest |
Famous relatives |
Her brother Chris competed in swimming at the 2007 Australian Youth Olympic Festival. (olympics.com.au, 2012; olympics.com.au, 09 Oct 2008) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
Her grandmother was a swimming coach. "My grandmother was my learn-to-swim and first squad coach." |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Australian surfer Layne Beachley and Australian swimmer Jack McLoughin. (results.gc2018.com, 01 Oct 2017; olympics.com.au, 10 Apr 2012) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She took up swimming at age four at Canterbury swimming pool in Sydney, NSW, Australia. |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Jess (results.gc2018.com, 01 Oct 2017; olympics.com.au, 2012) |
Other information |
RETIREMENT
She decided to retire from competitive swimming after competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. She was diagnosed with scoliosis [curvature of the spinal cord] as a teenager, and then learned to train and compete with a curved torso. She underwent surgery on her spinal cord in January 2019. "The space away from the sport has allowed me to really appreciate what I was able to achieve. I wasn't in any pain at that time [initial diagnosis with scoliosis] so we didn't go ahead with the surgery. Somehow having two curves balanced me out a bit and I had been swimming since I was so young. That must have helped. However, [the doctors said] I would definitely need corrective surgery after I retired. Racing against the best swimmers in the world is hard enough. Doing it with pretty severe scoliosis doesn't help." (playersvoice.com.au, 27 May 2019; smh.com.au, 25 May 2019; swimswam.com, 24 May 2019) |
Injuries |
She withdrew from the 2016 World Short Course Championships in Windsor, Canada, due to illness. (swimswam.com, 21 Nov 2016)
She sometimes has recurring neck and back pain due to scoliosis. (theaustralian.com.au, 02 Apr 2014) |
International Debut |
Year |
2011 |
Competing for |
Australia |
Tournament |
World Championships |
Location |
Shanghai, CHN |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
English |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness." (swimming.org.au, 23 May 2015) |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Criminology, Psychology - Griffith University: Gold Coast, QLD, AUS |
General Interest |
Most influential person in career |
Her parents and her coach Vince Raleigh. (results.gc2018.com, 01 Oct 2017; olympics.com.au, 16 Jul 2016) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Placing third in the 400m freestyle at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia. (results.gc2018.com, 01 Oct 2017) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Chandler, QLD, AUS |
Family |
Partner Josh Maude |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 7 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
400m Freestyle |
4:05.68 |
| 5 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
800m Freestyle |
8:20.32 |
| 2 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
|
| 20 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
800m Freestyle |
8:37.21 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
1500m Freestyle |
15:52.17 |
| 4 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
800m Freestyle |
8:18.41 |
| 3 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
400m Freestyle |
4:03.34 |
| 6 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
7:51.02 |
| Heats |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
800m Freestyle |
8:27.74 |
| Heat |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
1500m Freestyle |
16:25.85 |
World Cup Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 6 |
2013 |
Berlin, GER |
800m Freestyle |
8:19.53 |
| 7 |
2013 |
Berlin, GER |
400m Freestyle |
4:03.61 |
| 6 |
2013 |
Eindhoven, NED |
800m Freestyle |
8:21.37 |
| 7 |
2013 |
Eindhoven, NED |
400m Freestyle |
4:04.83 |
| |
|
