Olympic champion Shane Gould opens up about sex and ageing in her 60s

Shane Gould, the 69‑year‑old former Olympic gold medallist who once held every world freestyle record from 100 m to 1500 m at the same time, sat down with Benjamin Law to discuss sexuality in later life. Gould, Australian of the Year in 1972 and awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2018, said her priorities have shifted from physical attraction to a partner’s mind and thoughtfulness. She noted that younger generations benefit from better information on consent and easier access to contraception, but lamented a trend toward short‑term hook‑ups that end the traditional “honeymoon” phase after about three months.

Gould also spoke about her personal life, confirming she married swimming coach Milton Nelms in 2007 and that they can discuss topics such as animal sentience over coffee. She described feeling “sexy” by wearing colour, caring for her skin, and feeling her muscles work, contrasting those sensations with the limited mirror‑confidence she once had.