Holly Barratt
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Holly Barratt (swimming) proved age is just a number when she became the oldest able-bodied swimmer to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, suiting up in the women’s 50m butterfly aged 34 and coming away with a silver medal, repeating her result from the Gold Coast four years earlier.
Barratt originally took up swimming to help her asthma, especially after some of her mother’s friends noted her abilities at a school carnival. However, she struggled to see a path from juniors to Australian representation and quit the sport when she was 18. She completed a degree in biomedical science from the University of Western Australia and then took on a casual job as a coach before deciding to return to competition at 24.
Barratt claimed the 50m butterfly Australian title in 2016 and then made her Dolphins debut aged 29 at the world championships the following year where she collected bronze as part of the 4x100m medley relay. In 2021 (aged 33) and 2022 (aged 34), she became the oldest woman to win an Australian title when she again won the 50m butterfly.
Holly announced her retirement from the sport in late 2022.
Results History
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Additional Information
Languages Spoken:
Screens showing other sports as they are going on
Are you a citizen of a country other than Australia? If yes, please provide details?
No
Education Details:
Bachelor of Science UWA Perth
Club details:
Rockingham Swimming Club Perth Australia
Why did you begin your sport?
AT a school carnival one of the other mums told my mum I could be good at swimming
What is your most memorable sporting achievement?
World Championships Bronze medal 4x100m medley relay 2017, Budapest
Who is your hero / idol, and why? Have you ever met them?
Michael Phelps, so good over so many years and knowing how much work that would have taken. No
Who has been the most influential person or people in your career and why?
My coach, Will Scott. He is very driven and has a lot of energy that he puts in to my swimming and the club.
Do you have any hobbies away from your sport?
Hiking
What is your sporting ambition?
Make the commonwealth games team in 2018
