Jessicah Lee Schipper OAM (born 19 November 1986) is an Australian former competition swimmer and former world record holder for 200 metres butterfly. Specialising in the 100 and 200 metres butterfly, she won several gold medals at the Olympic Games and the World Championships between 2004 and 2009.
In 2003, Schipper finished high school at Pine Rivers State High School.
Schipper trained at the Redcliffe Leagues Swimming Club, under veteran coach Ken Wood.
Schipper made her debut for Australia at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, winning the bronze medal as part of the 4×100-metre medley relay team.
In 2004, she competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, placing 4th in the 100-metre butterfly with the time of 58.22 seconds. She also collected the gold medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay, having swum the butterfly leg in the heats of the event.
At the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne she won the gold medal in both the 100- and 200-metre butterfly events, as well as the silver medal in 50-metre butterfly.
She combined with Sophie Edington, Leisel Jones and Libby Lenton to set a new world record in the 4×100-metre medley relay, collecting her third gold medal of the meet.
On 17 August 2006, Schipper set a new world record in the women's 200m butterfly, on the opening night of the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Schipper won the final in 2:05.40, bettering the mark of 2:05.61 set by Otylia Jędrzejczak at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships.
At the 2006 World Short Course Championships, Shanghai China, Jessicah won gold in the 200m Butterfly in a Championship Record. Gold in the 4 x 200m Free Relay and the 4 x 100m Medley Relay in a WORLD RECORD (Zimmer, Edmistone, Schipper, Lenton).
She won a bronze in the 100m Butterfly.
Jessicah Schipper, Jade Edmistone, Lisbeth Lenton and Tayliah Zimmer. In the Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay at the 2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Shanghai, these four athletes set an outstanding time World Record time of 3:51.84
Schipper won the gold medal in the 200-metre butterfly at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, as well as the silver medal in the 100-metre butterfly, behind fellow Australian Libby Lenton.
2008 Summer Olympics:
Schipper qualified for the 100- and 200-metre butterfly events in Beijing. Schipper won two bronze medals in her individual events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the 100-metre and 200-metre butterfly. Schipper also won gold in the 4×100-metre medley relay team with teammates Leisel Jones, Libby Trickett and Emily Seebohm.
Following the Olympics, Schipper split with her coach Ken Wood. This came after Wood had sold Schipper's training program to Chinese swimmer Liu Zige, who broke Schipper's world record to take the 200-metre title. She then joined the Commercial Swimming Club in Brisbane, under Stephan Widmar, who previously coached her Australian relay teammates Leisel Jones and Trickett. Schipper maintained her consistency at the world championship level. On day two, she took silver in the 100-metre butterfly, clocking the second fastest time in history. On day five she retained her 200-metre butterfly title in world record time, defeating Liu Zige by 0.49 of a second.
2012 Summer Olympics:
In 2012, Schipper again qualified for the 100- and 200-metre butterfly events. She was eliminated in the heats of the 100 m. She qualified for the semifinal of the 200-metre, but not for the final.
Jessicah also played a significant role outside of the pool. She was an ambassador for organisations such as Down Syndrome Swim Team, Leukemia Support Queensland and MS Queensland.
Jessica was fortunate to be paired with her idol Susie O’Neill AM as a Mentor after being awarded as a Scholarship for the SAHOF Scholarship & Mentoring Program in 2007.
Jessicah was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in January 2005 for service to sport.
In 2007 Jessicah was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Jessicah Schipper OAM is listed on the wall of the Redcliffe Wall of Fame:
A collection of portrait and information honouring the achievements of individuals who have influenced and shaped Redcliffe. The collection is in the Jetty Arcade at 139-141 Redcliffe Parade.
For a complete list of people who appear on the wall click on the following blog post: