John Coutts (swimmer)
John William Coutts (born 14 August 1955) is a former New Zealand swimmer. Now based in Australia, he is the owner of Carlile Swimming Australia, the world's largest private swimming organisation founded by Forbes Carlile.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth name | John William Coutts | |||||||||||||
| Born | 14 August 1955 Marton, New Zealand | |||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | |||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon}
Coutts was born in Marton in 1955,[1] and grew up in Hastings. He received his education at Hastings Central, Hastings Intermediate, and Hastings Boys' High Schools.[2] Coutts was the first person to swim Cook Strait in both directions.[2]
Coutts won a bronze medal in the 200 m butterfly at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.[3] He competed at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships in Cali, Colombia.[2] He represented New Zealand at the 1976 Summer Olympics and came fourth and fifth in 100 m and 100 m butterfly, respectively.[4]
Coutts owns and is director of Carlile Swimming Australia, the largest private swimming school in the world,[2] originally set up by Australian swimming legend Forbes Carlile and his wife Ursula Carlile.[5] Coutts is also co-owner of a swimming school in the United States.
At age 16, he was voted Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year in 1972. In June 2012, he was inducted into the Hawke's Bay's Sports Hall of Fame.[2] He is married to Sally, and they have four children. Coutts and his wife live in Australia.[2]
References
- "John Coutts". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- "Swimming: Coutts thrived outside comfort zone". Hawke's Bay Today. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- "Results for Swimming - 200m Butterfly - Men". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- "Results for John Coutts". New Zealand Olympic Committee. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- "The Carlile Story". Carlile Swimming. Retrieved 12 December 2015.