Jodie Henry: From Olympic Glory to Impactful Change Beyond the Pool

Catching Up With … Aussie Olympic Champion Jodie Henry Making a Difference for New Generation

Following a record-breaking week in the pool during 2004 at Athens, Australia’s Jodie Henry departed the cradle of the Modern Olympic Games as a triple Olympic gold medal winner and triple world record holder, signaling the beginning of a new chapter in Australian women’s swimming.

It has been 20 years since Jodie Henry surfaced as a participant in a groundbreaking cohort of Australian sprint freestylers who arrived in the 2004 Olympic host city of Athens with dreams of gold.

Henry, a modest, cheerful Queensland native, showcased her late-race speed to claim individual gold in the 100-meter freestyle final, surpassing former world record holder Inge de Bruijn (NED) and renowned Natalie Coughlin (USA). Henry’s achievement was highlighted by a world record, as she shattered teammate Libby Lenton’s time with her 53.52 in the semifinal.

Additionally, Henry led the Australian women to not just one, but two relay gold medals in the 400 freestyle and the 400 medley—both achieved in world-record times.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Fast forward to 2024: As the current group of Australian world-class sprinters—Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Meg Harris, Bronte Campbell, and Olivia Wunsch—prepared for the latest Olympiad in Paris, Henry found herself anxiously pacing at home in Brisbane, nervously biting her nails!

Photo Courtesy: Adam Pretty

Now 40, and a mother of three children, Henry has a personal stake in the present generation of Dolphins who have carried forward the Olympic 400 freestyle relay legacy over the last two decades. Indeed, it was a fire kindled by Henry and her teammates during those remarkable Games of Athens. The Class of 2024 clinched a record-equaling fourth consecutive 400 freestyle relay gold medal in Paris, adding to their victories in London, Rio, and Tokyo.

Working alongside fellow Olympian Linley Frame, Henry supports Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians in Athlete Wellbeing for Swimming Australia. Her role focuses on positively impacting the lives of contemporary swimmers and preparing them for life beyond their sports careers.

Henry is enthusiastic about her position: “Knowing them adds those extra nerves on top and particularly when you realize some of them are fairly anxious competitors too,” remarked Henry. “You just wish for them to perform at their finest…to touch that wall and feel satisfied with their performance.

“We collaborate with our national-team athletes in both our Olympic and Paralympic programs, overseeing between 70 and 80 athletes. This program involves engaging with each athlete, which can vary greatly depending on the individual. It’s rewarding to witness these athletes with a future-oriented approach, understanding that swimming isn’t an everlasting pursuit. They are striving towards their next professional aspirations after swimming…which is truly gratifying to see.

“In our era, swimmers often faced challenges in transitioning away from sport as they lacked an identity beyond being an athlete. Hence, it’s encouraging to observe that now there’s greater awareness regarding this issue, and we recognize that shifting out of sport will always be challenging regardless.”you transition from being an athlete to becoming an ordinary individual within the society—and the hurdles that consistently accompany that—it is truly encouraging to witness that it’s evolving.”

A BIT OF BACKGROUND

Henry became just the third Australian female to secure the prestigious individual 100 freestyle Olympic title. The 2004 team was only the second Australian group to triumph in the 400 freestyle relay and the first squad to achieve victory in the 400 medley relay.

The 100 freestyle was first contested by women in Stockholm in 1912, when Australian Hall of Famer Fanny Durack claimed her Olympic gold ahead of fellow Aussie Mina Wylie in a groundbreaking moment for female swimming.

It was not until 44 years later that the indomitable Dawn Fraser clinched the first of her three 100 freestyle titles in Melbourne in 1956, followed by victories in Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964.

Following Fraser’s groundbreaking accomplishments, no Australian had ascended to the Olympic medal podium in the 100 freestyle for 32 years—not since Munich in 1972 when Shane Gould captured bronze behind American rivals Sandra Neilson and Shirley Babashoff.

Approximately half a century after the Fraser era, Australian coaches seized the opportunity with their skilled group of burgeoning freestylers, spearheaded by Henry, Lenton, Alice Mills and established Olympians Sarah Ryan and Olympic butterfly medalist Petria Thomas, uniting them for specially organized training camps.

“We were the inception of that sprint revolution—back in the time when training was all about accumulating kilometer after kilometer,” Henry stated. “But in the early 2000s, we had coaches who recognized that might not be the ideal method to coach female sprinters.

“So we were able to revolutionize it, and we devised some exceptional sessions that allowed us to develop and develop…and ultimately, we could unleash our speed. It began with Alice (Mills) and myself, and then Libby (Lenton) emerged. Alice and I trained together (under Coach Shannon Rollason), so we were often aware of what each other was doing during training…and (we motivated) one another and understood what was achievable too.

“Libby wasn’t with us every day (as she trained in another program with Coach Stefan Widmer), but it was incredible when we all gathered, fueling each other’s energy. There was a period when Inge de Bruijn was breaking 54 seconds for the 100 freestyle. And it was like, ‘OMG—that’s just unnatural…that’s impossible!’”

However, by the time the Australians reached Athens after their training camp in Germany, they were convinced that anything was achievable.

A NEW ERA OF OLYMPIC TRIUMPH

At the 2004 Olympics, the Australian women swiftly made their presence felt and captured attention on the pool deck with the 400 freestyle relay on the opening evening of the bustling eight-day event. Olympic success and their own chapter in Australia’s illustrious swimming narrative awaited.

In 1912, Durack and Wylie secured the first and second positions in the individual 100 freestyle. Since they were the only two females on the team, Australia proposed to Olympic officials that they swim two legs each. That suggestion was declined.

In 1956, it was Fraser who guided her team to clinch Australia’s first gold in the women’s 400 free relay, with Lorraine Crapp, Sandra Morgan, and Faith Leech.

In 2004, the Australians had the privilege of leading off with Mills, followed by then world record holder Lenton—who had shattered de Bruijn’s world record at the Australian Trials (the time later reduced by Henry in the semifinal)—followed by Thomas.

Henry surged past U.S. icon and another former world record holder in Jenny Thompson on the anchor leg, achieving the fastest time ever with her split of 52.95.

The Australians broke the U.S. monopoly on an event they had dominated since Barcelona in 1992, and they set a new world record previously held by East Germany.

MAINTAINING FOCUS

Henry realized that the pressure was perhaps alleviated…or was it?

“The fact that we clinched the 4×100 free on the inaugural night somewhat alleviated the pressure, but conversely, it felt like it didn’t after I executed a fairly solid anchor leg,” Henry reflected. “It marked the commencement of an extraordinary week for me, one that felt surreal—like watching someone else accomplish it.

“Thus, for me, the most fulfilling aspect of winning the 100 was that I managed to maintain my concentration…to keep my mind and body aligned with the task at hand—doing what was expected, which was swimming two lengths of freestyle up and down the pool as swiftly as I could. As straightforward as it sounds, your mind can become quite intrusive, so that’s what I’m most proud of—that I didn’t allow my mind to obstruct my performance.”

* * *

Married to former Australian Rules Football Premiership winner with the Brisbane Lions, Tim Notting, the pair has three children: Emmy (14), Charlie (12), and Freddie (9). When Swimming World reached out, Henry was on the Queensland Sunshine Coast fulfilling her responsibilities, engaging with the upcoming generation preparing for LA28 and Brisbane 2032.

Henry expresses: “At times, you reach a stage where you wish to contribute back, and I’m lucky enough to be fulfilling this role now.”