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Lara Davenport

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Lara Davenport
Personal information
Full nameLara Shiree Davenport
NationalityAustralian
Born (1983-06-12) 12 June 1983 (age 41)
Sydney
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubKingscliff SC
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 4×200 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Silver medal – second place 2005 Montreal 4×200 m freestyle

Lara Shiree Davenport OAM[1] (born 22 December 1983, in Sydney, New South Wales) in 2006, she relocated to Kingscliff, Northern NSW to train with at the High Performance Institute – New South Wales Institute of Sport by Greg Salter. During her Olympic pursuit Lara was the Ambassador for Pacific Hoists.[2] She completed her Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) at Bond University.[3] She is currently[when?] the Chair of the Queensland Olympic Council Education Commission[4] and a member of the Victorian Olympic Council Education Commission.[5]

Career

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Swimming

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Davenport gained a scholarship at the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) in 1999. She represented Australia at the East Asian Games: Osaka, Japan in 2001 winning three gold medals in the 100- and 200-metre butterfly, and the 4×200-metre freestyle. She competed internationally at the Mare Nostrum World Tour (Europe – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008) and the short course World Cup Tour (2003, 2004) medalling in butterfly and freestyle events. In 2004 Lara represented Australia at the Oceania Championships: Suva, Fiji winning gold medals in the 200-metre freestyle and 4×200-metre freestyle and a silver in the 200-metre butterfly. In 2005, Lara made her first major Australian team competing at the World Championships: Montreal, Canada and won a silver medal as part of the 4×200-metre freestyle relay (heat swimmer). In 2006, Davenport made a career changing move relocated to Kingscliff and due to a back injury specialized in freestyle events. In 2006, Lara competed at the World Short Course Championships: Shanghai, China resulting in a gold and silver medal in the 4×200-metre and 4×100-metre freestyle relay (heat swimmer). At the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne,[6] Lara gained selection in the 4x200 metre freestyle relay team for the final (Jodie Henry, Stephanie Rice, Lara Davenport and Libby Trickett) after posting the fastest split of the Australian swimmers in the heat. The team came 4th in the final.

At the 2008 Australian Swimming Championships she qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing as a member of the 4×200-metre freestyle relay. Lara swam the final leg of the heats in Beijing safely qualifying the final team. Lara successfully posted her personal best at the Olympics demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure. As part of the 4×200-metre freestyle relay, Davenport won gold when the first-choice quartet won the final in a world record time.

Lara has stated that during her swimming career that she was coached by some of the world's best coaches and mentors that assisting her to reach the pinnacle of sport, the Olympic Games. Overcoming injury, missing team selection by 0.01 of a second and overcoming adversity outside of the pool have been credited by her as an integral part of her development within the sport. Lara was the head coach at Kingscliff Swimming Club and is actively involved in giving back to the sport through mentoring and involvement education programs about the philosophy of the Olympic Movement.[7]

Post-swimming career

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Community development

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Lara developed an early passion for community development through sport, and has been extensively involved in the not for profit sector both during, and after, her graduation from university. Davenport serves as a Role Model for Red Dust,[8] a program manager with the Stride Foundation,[9] and the Queensland and Victorian Olympic Councils Education Committees, as Chair and Executive Member of the respectively.

Lara also presents at motivational presentations to corporate organisations,[10] not for profit organisations[11][12] and schools[13][14] regularly.

Performance enhancement

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In 2015, Davenport started a consulting and coaching business, focusing on performance enhancement, health promotion, leadership and community development through evidenced based experiential techniques and programs.[15] She is currently[when?] completing her Diploma in Mindfulness Therapy (Teachers Training Course) accredited by the International Meditation Teachers Association.[16] and the International Institute of Complementary Therapy.[17]

Honours and awards

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2015 Member of The Order of Australia Association ( Association with the UK, VIC, NSW & QLD).[18] 2012 Selected tribunal member for the Olympic Team Selection Appeals Tribunal for the Australian Olympic Swimming Team.[19] 2008 Lara was awarded the "Key to the City’ Gold Coast for "recognition of outstanding sporting achievement at the Beijing Olympics".[20] At the 2008 Australian Day Honours, Davenport was awarded the Order of Australia Medal "for service to sport and the community"[21] Australian Open Championship medallist since 2003.[22] 2WS Sportsperson of the year 2002.[23] Australian Open Championship Finalist since 2000.[24] New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship holder since 1999.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Davenport, Lara Shiree". It's An Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  2. ^ Pacific Hoists (http://www.ferret.com.au/c/pacific-hoists/pacific-hoists-announces-partnership-with-lara-davenport-n781414 Pacific Hoists Announces Partnership with Lara Davenport) Retrieved 2 March 2015
  3. ^ Bond University (2008). Bond’s Olympic Sporting Stars Make Waves in Beijing Archived 23 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  4. ^ Queensland Olympic Council (2015). Queensland Olympic Council – Executive and Staff. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. ^ Victorian Olympic Council (2015) Victorian Olympic Council – Executive and Staff. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ^ Tweed Daily News (2007) (http://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/apn-lara-eyes-team/145756/ Lara Eyes Team Berth) Retrieved 2 March 2015
  7. ^ The Olympic Museum (2013) [1]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  8. ^ Red Dust Role Models (2015). Red Dust Role Models – Lara Davenport Archived 3 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  9. ^ Stride Foundation (2015). Stride Foundation – Who we are Archived 3 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  10. ^ Guidelight Personal Training (2014). "Inspiration and Self Belief Fuels Olympic Level Results | Guidelight Personal Training". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2015.. Retrieved 18 April 2015
  11. ^ Central Australia Aboriginal Media Association (2008). "CAAMA Sports Wall – Swimming – Australian Olympic Team – Gold Medalist 4x200M Freestyle Relay – Lara Davenport | CAAMA". Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. ^ North West Star (2008). [2]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  13. ^ Abbotsleigh Swim Club (2014). [3]. Retrieved 18 April 2015
  14. ^ Centaur Primary School (2012) [4]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). Lara Davenport OAM. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  16. ^ International meditation Teachers Association (2015). [5]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  17. ^ International Institute of Complementary Therapy (2015). [6]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  18. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). [7]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  19. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). [8]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  20. ^ Gold Coast City Council (2015). "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Davenport, Lara Shiree". It's An Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  22. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). [9]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  23. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). [10]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  24. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). [11]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  25. ^ Lara Davenport (2015). [12]. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
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Lara Davenport OAM Official Website (www.laradavenport.com)

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