Giaan Rooney – Swimming – 2000, 2004
Giaan Rooney has a motto in life that you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable and that philosophy has reaped her rewards across multiple fields.
“Because every time I’ve got out of my comfort zone, that’s when magical things have happened,” says the two-time Olympian and media personality.
A product of the Gold Coast’s Miami Swimming Club, Rooney made a stunning debut on the senior international stage when she won two gold medals as a 15-year-old at the 1998 Commonwealth Games including the individual 100m backstroke. Olympic success followed at the 2000 Sydney Games where she claimed silver medals in the 4x100m medley and 4x200m freestyle relays.
Rooney then moved to the top of the podium at the 2004 Athens Games when she swam an Australian record backstroke leg to inspire her relay team to a world record in the 4x100m medley, the maiden Olympic victory for the green and gold in the event.
In other career highlights, she was crowned world champion in the 200m freestyle at the 2001 World Swimming Championships and, in the wake of the withdrawal of fellow Bond alumnus Grant Hackett, was appointed captain of the Australian swim team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Continuing to search for magical things outside her comfort zone, Rooney has gone on to create a successful media career in her post-swimming life.