World Champion and Olympian Long Distance swimmer Melissa Gorman was born in Sydney in 1985.
Melissa joined the Redcliffe Leagues Swimming Club under the tutelage of Master Coach Ken Wood and has been a noted member of the Australian Swimming team since 2006.
She first came to prominence aged 21, winning a silver medal in the 800m Freestyle at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Always a strong freestyle long distance swimmer, she was the only female Olympic representative in the 10km open water event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where she placed a credible 15th, and 17th in the 800 m freestyle.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, Gorman stunned Olympic champion Larisa Ilchenko to win gold in the women's 5 km.
In the 2010 Commonwealth Games she won the bronze medal in the 800m freestyle and won gold in the same year at the won a bronze medal in the 800 m freestyle.
At the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Gorman won a gold medal in the women's 1500 m freestyle and set a new Commonwealth record.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Gorman finished 10th in the women's 10 km open water marathon.
Melissa has won the title of Open Water Swimming champion of the year, several times.
In 2020, Melissa was inducted into the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
Melissa Gorman 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: