16 Facts About Petria Thomas

Petria Thomas was born in Lismore, New South Wales, and grew up in the nearby town of Mullumbimby.

In 1993, at the age of 17, Thomas won a bronze medal in the 200-metre butterfly at the World Short Course Championships.

Petria Thomas won a silver medal, finishing second to fellow Australian Susie O'Neill.

Petria Thomas won a bronze in the 100-metre butterfly and a silver in the 200-metre at the World Championships in Perth, the same year.

Petria Thomas had always struggled to surpass O'Neill, despite being talented in her own right.

However, after the 2000 games, O'Neill retired, and Petria Thomas, despite battling recurring injuries, decided to continue.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Petria Thomas won five gold, one silver and one bronze medals.

Petria Thomas followed this with three gold and two silver medals at the 2002 Pan Pacific Championships in Yokohama, Japan.

At the short-course championships in Moscow, Russia, Petria Thomas won another gold medal in her pet event, the 200-metre butterfly.

In 2004, Petria Thomas made another comeback at the Olympic selection trials in Sydney while training with the Ginninderra Swimming Club.

Petria Thomas broke the Commonwealth records in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly, set new personal best times in the 100-metre freestyle, 200-metre freestyle and narrowly missed the world record in the 200-metre butterfly.

Petria Thomas was chosen to carry the Australian flag at the closing ceremony.

Petria Thomas announced her retirement from competitive swimming at the conclusion of the games.

In mid-2005, Petria Thomas released an autobiography, Swimming Against The Tide, in which she describes her career, including her experiences with depression and injuries.

Petria Thomas manages the Swimming Australia National Training Centre at the AIS.

Petria Thomas served as Chef de Mission of the Australian team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England.