View source for Leisel Jones

{{Short description|Australian swimmer (born 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Leisel Jones<br/>{{postnominals|country=AUS|OAM}}
| image          = Leisel Jones at the Queen's Baton Relay, Sydney, Australia, 2018-02-03.jpg 
| image_size     = 
| alt            =
| caption        = Jones in 2018
| fullname       = Leisel Marie Jones
| nicknames      = "Diesel", "Lethal Leisel"<ref name="Retires ABC" /> 
| national_team  = {{AUS}}
| strokes        = [[Breaststroke]]
| club           = 
| coach          = 
| collegeteam    = 
| birth_name     = Leisel Marie Jones
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1985|8|30|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]], [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = 174 cm
| weight         = 68 kg
| spouse = {{marriage|Damon Martin|2018}}
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry|{{AUS}}}}
{{MedalSport|Women's [[swimming (sport)|swimming]]}}
{{MedalCount
|[[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]|3|5|1
|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]|7|4|3
|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (SC)]]|0|1|1
|[[Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Championships]]|1|4|1
|[[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]|10|1|0
|'''Total'''|'''21'''|'''15'''|'''6'''
}}
{{MedalSport | Women's [[swimming (sport)|swimming]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2008 Beijing | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2000 Sydney | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2008 Beijing | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]] | [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships|2001 Fukuoka]] | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005 Montreal]] | [[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2005 Montreal | [[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2005 Montreal | [[Swimming at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships|2007 Melbourne]] | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2007 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2007 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2001 Fukuoka | [[Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003 Barcelona]] | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2007 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 50 metre breaststroke|50 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships|2011 Shanghai]] | [[Swimming at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2003 Barcelona | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2003 Barcelona | [[Swimming at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2011 Shanghai | [[Swimming at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|World Championships (SC)]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2010 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)|2010 Dubai]] | [[2010 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2010 Dubai | [[2010 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|2002 Yokohama]] | [[2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2002 Yokohama | [[2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|2010 Irvine]] | [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Irvine | [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Irvine | [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2010 Irvine | [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships – Women's 50 metre breaststroke|50 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]] | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2002 Manchester | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2002 Manchester | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 50 metre breaststroke|50 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2006 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2006 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2006 Melbourne | [[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200 m breaststroke]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2010 Delhi | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's 50 metre breaststroke|50 m breaststroke]]}}
}}

'''Leisel Marie Jones''', {{postnominals|country=AUS|OAM}} (born 30 August 1985) is an Australian former competition [[swimming (sport)|swimmer]] and Olympic gold medallist.  A participant in the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] – at just 15 years old – and [[2004 Summer Olympics]], she was part of gold-medal-winning Australian team in the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|women's 4×100-metre medley relay]] at the Athens Games in 2004 and a gold medallist for 100-metre breaststroke in the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing.

On 17 March 2012, Jones earned selection to compete at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London, and became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympic games. There, she won her ninth Olympic medal, a silver medal in the [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100-metre medley relay]].

Jones is noted for employing a classic breaststroke technique, typified by a slow but deeper stroke cycle and also by her slow starts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/swimming/victory-falls-in-jones-lap/2006/03/17/1142582529677.html|title=Victory falls in Jones' lap |publisher=The Age |access-date=9 March 2009 | location=Melbourne | date=18 March 2006 |first1=Michael |last1=Cowley |first2=Chloe |last2=Saltau}}</ref>  Along with South African champion [[Penny Heyns]], she is regarded as one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers ever.

==Personal==
While at [[Southern Cross Catholic College]], Jones used to train at the [[Redcliffe City, Queensland|Redcliffe]] club in [[Scarborough, Queensland]], and was coached by [[Ken Wood (coach)|Ken Wood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/olympics/athletes/jones.htm|title=Leisel Jones|publisher=[[ABC Online]]|access-date=9 March 2003}}</ref> Her training partners included fellow Australian team members, [[Geoff Huegill]] and [[Jessicah Schipper]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/swimming/schipper-stings-like-a-bee/2007/08/11/1186530680181.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |title=Schipper stings like a bee |access-date=10 March 2009 | date=12 August 2007}}</ref> After her disappointing campaign in Athens, Jones moved to train at the Fortitude Valley Pool in Brisbane, Australia, alongside [[Libby Trickett|Libby Lenton]], under Swiss-born coach [[Stephan Widmar]] at the [[Commercial Swimming Club]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/sports/2006/March/sports_March502.xml&section=sports&subsection=commonwealthgames |title=Leisel Jones breaks her own record |publisher=Khaleej Times |access-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804152703/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayarticle.asp?xfile=data%2Fsports%2F2006%2FMarch%2Fsports_March502.xml&section=sports&subsection=commonwealthgames |archive-date=4 August 2009  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/8790.asp |title=Lethal Leisel Throws Down A Global Challenge |publisher=Swimming World Magazine |access-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213175417/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/8790.asp |archive-date=13 February 2012  }}</ref>  Following the move, Jones began to speak openly about the [[Depression (mood)|depression]] and self-esteem issues that had plagued her following her being thrust into the spotlight at such a young age.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/liesel-jones-brats-not-the-real-me/2006/02/25/1140670299809.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |title=Leisel Jones: brat's not the real me |access-date=9 March 2009 | date=26 February 2006}}</ref>  The successes that followed endeared her to an Australian public that had been critical of her attitude following her failure to capture individual gold in Athens.  Some, including  [[Dawn Fraser]], believed Jones had acted immaturely and ungratefully, particularly in her indifferent displays of emotion during post-race interviews and medal ceremonies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24169518-5014197,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804170755/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24169518-5014197,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2009 |title=Finally Leisel Jones wins individual Olympic gold |publisher=The Australian |access-date=10 March 2009}}</ref>

In 2009, Jones became the new face of the [[World Animal Protection]] Australia & New Zealand anti-whaling campaign.<ref>{{cite news |author=World Animal Protection |title=Leisel Jones speaks out about whaling cruelty |work=World Animal Protection |date=1 April 2009 |url=http://www.leiseljones.com/ |access-date=17 April 2006 |archive-date=12 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012143810/http://www.leiseljones.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jones confirmed her retirement from swimming in November 2012. She planned to begin a university degree in [[psychology]] in 2013.<ref name="Retires ABC">{{cite news |title=Leisel retires from the pool|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-16/leisel-retires-from-the-pool/4376100 |access-date=16 November 2012 |newspaper=ABC News |date=16 November 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, Jones published an autobiography titled ''Body Lengths''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Leisel |title=Body lengths |date=2015 |publisher=Nero |location=Melbourne |isbn=978-1-86395-726-7 |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/193377493?q&versionId=211761886}}</ref>

==Career==
Jones was selected for the Australian team at just 14 years of age,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21377678-14641,00.html |title=I'm feeling lethal, Leisel warns|publisher=Herald Sun |access-date=10 March 2009 | first=Jim |last=Wilson | date=14 March 2007}}</ref> qualifying in the 100-metre breaststroke by winning the event at the Australian Championships in May 2000 in Sydney, ending the international career of former world champion [[Samantha Riley]].

===2000 Olympics===
Jones swam a personal best in the final at the [[Sydney Olympics]] to claim an unexpected silver medal behind American [[Megan Quann]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://static.espn.go.com/oly/summer00/swimming/index.html |title=ESPN Sydney Swimming |access-date=13 March 2009 |archive-date=22 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522073053/http://static.espn.go.com/oly/summer00/swimming/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also combined with [[Dyana Calub]], [[Petria Thomas]] and [[Susie O'Neill]] in the 4×100-metre medley relay to win silver, again behind the Americans.  Jones left school aged 15 to concentrate on swimming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/05/10/1919431.htm |title=Leisel Jones takes on Year 8s |publisher=ABC Online |access-date=10 March 2009}}</ref>

At the [[2001 World Aquatics Championships]] in Fukuoka, Japan, Jones was now one of the established swimmers and expected to win medals. She finished second to China's [[Luo Xuejuan]]. The competition also marked her international debut in the 200-metre breaststroke, where she came fourth place (2:25.46).  She also collected a gold in the medley relay alongside Calub, Thomas and [[Sarah Ryan]], the first time that the US women had been beaten at world or Olympic level in this event, excluding the systemically doped East German and Chinese teams.

In 2002, Jones claimed her first titles on the international arena, claiming the breaststroke double at the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] in Manchester, England.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/bsp/statistics/results.stm |title=BBC Sport Commonwealth Games 2002 Statistics |access-date=29 August 2007 | work=BBC News}}</ref> Australia also won the medley relay.

In 2003, Jones set an Australian record in the 200-metre individual medley earlier in the year, in an experimental event.  Later at the [[2003 World Aquatics Championships]] in Barcelona, Spain, she started setting a world record in the semifinals of the 100-metre breaststroke (1:06.37).  However, she succumbed to nerves in the final and came third, with Luo again winning the event.  She also achieved a silver in the 200-metre breaststroke in Barcelona, behind [[Amanda Beard]] in (2:24.33).  She collected a bronze in the medley relay.

In the month leading up to the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens Olympics]], Jones set a world record (2:22.96) in the 200-metre breaststroke in a meet in Brisbane, Australia.  This led to high expectations of an even better performance in Athens, as Jones had not been rested prior to swimming the world record.  However, it was reclaimed by Beard at the US Olympic trials only a few days later.

===2004 Olympics===
In Athens, Jones was again the quickest qualifier of the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre breaststroke|100-metre breaststroke]], after setting an Olympic record (1:06.78) in the semifinals, which was almost two seconds clear of the then second fastest swimmer in the event's history, [[Amanda Beard]].  However, in the final race she finished in the bronze position.  In the [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metre breaststroke|200-metre breaststroke]], she attempted to take an attacking approach, but faded in the last 50 metres and was pipped to the wall by Amanda Beard, winning silver.  Australia went on to win the 4×100-metre medley relay, giving Jones her first Olympic gold.

Jones' world record in the 100-metre breaststroke was broken at the [[2005 World Aquatics Championships]] in Montreal, Canada by Jessica Hardy of the United States in 1:06.20, again in the semifinal. However, this time the expectations turned to Hardy and Jones turned the tables and beat her to the wall, breaking through for her first win at world or Olympic level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Montreal_2005/results/sw.php |title=Montreal 2005 Results |access-date=9 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128064425/http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Montreal_2005/results/sw.php |archive-date=28 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  She also broke the world record for the 200-metre breaststroke (2:21.72), on 29 July 2005.  In the process she won the gold medal, leaving her rivals more than six metres behind.  For her efforts she was named by ''[[Swimming World magazine]]'' as the [[Swimming World Swimmers of the Year|Female World Swimmer of the Year]] in 2005.

The changes which occurred in 2005 continued to pay off at the Australian Commonwealth Games Swimming Trials in early 2006 where Jones broke her personal best time in the 50-metre breaststroke (30.85) and took 1.18 seconds off her previous world record in the 200-metre breaststroke (2.20:54).  On Day 5 of the Australian Nationals Jones swam a world record in the 100-metre breaststroke final.  Jones won the Australian championship in a time of 1:05.71 which lowered the previous mark by 0.49 of a second.

Jones completed a clean sweep of the breaststroke events (50-, 100- and 200-metre) at the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]]—the only time this has been achieved in the breaststroke events in the games' history.  In the butterfly events (50-, 100- and 200-metre) at the 2002 Manchester Games, [[Petria Thomas]] was the first swimmer in Commonwealth Games history to complete a clean sweep.  The 50-metre events were introduced at the Manchester Games.  In the 50-metre breaststroke, an event she had only recently begun competing in, she defeated the reigning world champion and world record-holder [[Jade Edmistone]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule+and+Results/By+Sport/Aquatics%20Swimming |title=Swimming Schedule and Results |access-date=22 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811124308/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule%2Band%2BResults/By%2BSport/Aquatics%2BSwimming |archive-date=11 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  She later won another gold in the 200-metre breaststroke and completed the sweep with the gold medal in the 100-metre in a world record time of 1:05.09 – an effort that saw her own world record reduced 0.62 of a second and was declared "Beamonesque" by aquatics journalist Craig Lord, a reference to [[Bob Beamon]]'s legendary long jump at the Mexico City Olympics.  A fourth gold medal in world record time in the 4×100-metre medley relay with [[Sophie Edington]], [[Jessicah Schipper]] and [[Libby Trickett|Libby Lenton]] rounded off her Commonwealth Games.

In 2007, she competed in the World Championships and won the 100-metre breaststroke,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Melbourne_2007/results/swimming.php |title=12th FINA World Championships |access-date=9 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606111744/http://www.fina.org/events/WC/Melbourne_2007/results/swimming.php |archive-date= 6 June 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 200-metre breaststroke, and 4×100-metre medley relay, setting a world record in the relay.  She also won silver in the 50-metre breaststroke.  She then left Brisbane and Widmer to move to Melbourne to train under [[Rohan Taylor]], so that she could live with her fiancé [[Marty Pask]], an [[Australian rules football]]er with the [[Western Bulldogs]].  Her dissolution of a successful partnership raised eyebrows and many questioned whether putting her personal life ahead of a proven competitive formula would backfire in the pool.

In early 2008, she won the breaststroke double at the [[2008 Australian Swimming Championships]] to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Although missing the [[2008 FINA Short Course World Championships|World Short Course Championships in Manchester]] due to the preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics she broke her own world record over 100-metre breaststroke (SC) in 1:03.72 at the Telstra Grand Prix in Canberra.

===2008 Olympics===
[[File:2008 Australian Olympic team Leisel Jones - Sarah Ewart.jpg|thumb|right|Jones in 2008]]
Jones won gold at the [[2008 Beijing Olympics]] in 100-metre breaststroke, touching the line a full body length ahead of her rival. Her time of 1:05.17 was 1.66 seconds faster than the American silver medalist [[Rebecca Soni]].  While she was the favourite to win in the 200-metre  breaststroke, she was beaten by Soni, who won gold in world record time. Jones took the silver.  She also won a gold medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay, with the Australian team breaking the previous world record by three seconds.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}

Jones was awarded the Telstra Swimmer Of The Year award as part of the year's international all-star team, in Sydney in October 2008.<ref>{{cite news |author=Daily Telegraph |title=Leisel Jones leaves Swimmer of the Year Awards trophy in back of taxi |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 October 2008 |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24573702-5012964,00.html |access-date=30 October 2008 |archive-date=18 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318103807/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24573702-5012964,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the [[2009 FINA Swimming World Cup|World Cup]] meeting at Berlin, Germany, Jones set world records in the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke (short course).  Jones had a low-key year and opted out of the [[2009 World Aquatics Championships|2009 World Championships]].

===2012 Olympics===
{{anchor|Potential 4th Olympics}}

Jones confirmed that she was aiming for the 2012 Olympics in London and competed at the Pan Pacific Championships and the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Jones confirmed her place on these teams by winning the 50-, 100- and 200-metre breaststroke at the 2010 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships.

At the [[2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Swimming Championships]] in Irvine, California, in 2010 Jones collected three silver medals and a bronze. She competed in the 50-metre [[breaststroke]] (bronze) 100-metre breaststroke (silver), 200-metre breaststroke (silver), and the 4×100-metre medley relay (silver) events. In all four of events, she was behind the Americans; in the 50-metre she was behind [[Jessica Hardy]] and fellow Australian [[Leiston Pickett]], and in the 100- and 200-metre she finished behind [[Rebecca Soni]].

After earning selection to compete at the 2012 London Olympics, Jones became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympic games.<ref name="fourth olympics">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/7700711/australian-swimmer-leisel-jones-makes-fourth-olympics|title=Australian swimmer Leisel Jones makes fourth Olympics|date=17 March 2012|publisher=ESPN|access-date=17 March 2012}}</ref> Together with [[Emily Seebohm]], [[Alicia Coutts]] and [[Melanie Schlanger]], she won a silver medal for Australia in the [[Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay|4×100-metre medley relay]].

=== Retirement ===
Jones confirmed her retirement from swimming on 16 November 2012.<ref name="retirement announced">{{cite news|last=Balym|first=Todd|title=Swimming great Leisel Jones says she knew her time was up after the London Games|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sport/swimming-great-leisel-jones-says-she-knew-her-time-was-up-after-the-london-games/story-e6frfglf-1226517605270|access-date=16 November 2012|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=16 November 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, Jones appeared in the Australian version of ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (Australian TV series)]]''. She was, however, voted off the show in the first week.

In January 2016, Jones graduated from the Nutrition Coach course at the [[Australian Institute of Fitness]]. She believes she is "so much more informed now" than when she was swimming in terms of good nutrition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fitness.edu.au/the-fitness-zone/article/leisel-jones-how-fitness-and-healthy-eating-helps-me-stay-positive/|title=Leisel Jones: How Fitness and Healthy Eating Helps Me Stay Positive {{!}} Australian Institute of Fitness|website=Australian Institute of Fitness|language=en|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405063726/https://fitness.edu.au/the-fitness-zone/article/leisel-jones-how-fitness-and-healthy-eating-helps-me-stay-positive/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Recognition==
* 2004 – [[Order of Australia]] for service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leisel Maree Jones|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1057932|website=It's an Honour|access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>
* 2005 & 2006 – [[List of Swimming World Swimmers of the Year|World Swimmer of the Year]]
* 2006 – Australian Swimmer of the Year.
* 2015 – [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] inductee.<ref name=sahof>{{cite web|title='Lethal' Leisel to join Hall of Fame elite|url=https://sahof.org.au/lethal-leisel-to-join-hall-of-fame-elite/|website=Sport Australia Hall of Fame|date=20 October 2015|access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref>
* 2017 – [[List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame|International Swimming Hall of Fame]] inductee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rieder |first1=David |title=Nine-Time Olympic Medalist Leisel Jones Elected to ISHOF in Class of 2017 |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/nine-time-olympic-medalist-leisel-jones-elected-to-ishof-in-class-of-2017/ |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=Swimming World |date=10 March 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Australian records in swimming]]
* [[List of Commonwealth Games records in swimming]]
* [[List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists]]
* [[List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)]]
* [[World record progression 100 metres breaststroke]]
* [[World record progression 200 metres breaststroke]]
* [[World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay]]

==References==
{{commons category|Leisel Jones}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{World Aquatics}}
* {{ISHOF}}
* {{SAHOF}}
* {{AOC profile}}
* {{CGA profile|leisel-jones}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{IMDb name}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before=<br>[[Penelope Heyns]]<br>Jessica Hardy|title=[[World record progression 100 metres breaststroke|Women's 100-metre breaststroke<br>world record-holder (long course)]]|years=21 July 2003 – 25 July 2005<br>3 February 2006 – 27 July 2009|after=<br>[[Jessica Hardy]]<br>Rebecca Soni|rec}}
{{succession box|before=<br>[[Amanda Beard]]<br>Amanda Beard|title=[[World record progression 200 metres breaststroke|Women's 200-metre breaststroke<br>world record-holder (long course)]]|years=10 July 2004 – 12 July 2004<br>29 July 2005 – 15 August 2008|after=<br>Amanda Beard<br>[[Rebecca Soni]]|rec}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box|title=[[Swimming World Swimmers of the Year|''Swimming World''<br>World Swimmer of the Year]]|before=[[Yana Klochkova]]|after=[[Laure Manaudou]]|years= 2005–2006}}
{{succession box|title=[[Swimming World Swimmers of the Year|''Swimming World''<br>Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year]]|before=[[Petria Thomas]]<br>Jodie Henry|after=[[Jodie Henry]]<br>[[Libby Trickett|Libby Lenton]]|years=2003<br>2005–2006}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before=[[László Cseh]]|title=[[Mare Nostrum (swimming)|Mare Nostrum Tour Overall Winner]]|years=2006|after=[[Tara Kirk]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 100 m Breaststroke Women}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Medley Relay Women}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 100m Breaststroke Women}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 200m Breaststroke Women}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 4x100m Medley Women}}
{{Footer Pan Pacific Champions 4x100m Medley Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 50m Breaststroke Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 100m Breaststroke Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 200m Breaststroke Women}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Leisel}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian female medley swimmers]]
[[Category:Australian female breaststroke swimmers]]
[[Category:World record setters in swimming]]
[[Category:Olympic swimmers for Australia]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games swimmers for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Commercial Swimming Club swimmers]]
[[Category:Sportswomen from the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Australian Swimmers of the Year]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen]]