BOYLE Lauren < Back  
Sport Swimming
CGA New Zealand   
Gender Women
Born 14 Dec 1987 in Auckland, NZL
Height1.83 m
Human Interest
Further Personal Information
Residence Auckland, NZL
Higher education Business Administration - University of California : Berkeley, CA, USA
General Interest
Injuries Her performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was affected by a hip injury and a throat infection. She eventually had surgery on the hip problem in May 2017. (nzherald.co.nz, 01 Aug 2017; stuff.co.nz, 12 Aug 2016)

In March 2014 she returned to New Zealand early from a training camp in Arizona, United States of America, after suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. (stuff.co.nz, 16 Mar 2014)

A severe bronchial complaint led to her withdrawal from the 2007 World Championships trials held in December 2006. It was diagnosed as an allergic reaction to inhaled chemicals at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Waitakere, New Zealand. (swimmingnz.org.nz, 14 Mar 2007)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? "I did swimming lessons for a while then I decided that I wanted to join a club. I think it was just something to do back in the day. Mum and dad made me do a number of after school activities. As I got better I decided I would narrow my focus to swimming, so I have just kept doing that."
General Interest
Hero / Idol New Zealand swimmer Anthony Mosse. (nzherald.co.nz, 09 Jul 2011)
Awards and honours She was named New Zealand Swimmer of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. (swimswam.com, 03 Apr 2016, 30 Sep 2015; stuff.co.nz, 23 Mar 2013, 01 Apr 2012)

She was presented with one of three global scholarships from the International University Sports Foundation [FISU] following the 2011 World University Games. (stuff.co.nz, 16 Jan 2012)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She learned to swim at age six months, and began swimming competitively at age 12.
International Debut
Year 2005
Competing for New Zealand
Tournament World Championships
Location Montreal, QC, CAN
Further Personal Information
Languages English
General Interest
Other information RETIREMENT
In August 2017 she announced she would no longer be competing in swimming. She left the sport with 14 medals at major international competitions, but had been troubled by a hip problem in the 12 months before her retirement. "I've been in swimming for so many years it has been my life. I am grateful to have been able to achieve what I have. It ends in the wake of this injury trouble and rehab setbacks that tell me I can't get back. I'm leaving with no regrets." (nzherald.co.nz, 01 Aug 2017)

NATIONAL FIRST
She became the first female swimmer from New Zealand to win a medal at the world championships when she claimed bronze in the 400m freestyle at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. She followed that up with bronze in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events. Her medals were the first by a New Zealand woman at an Olympic Games or world championships in 61 years. (SportsDeskOnline, 28 Jul 2013; nzherald.co.nz, 06 Aug 2013)

COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
She attended university in the United States of America on a scholarship in 2007, having experienced a tough period in her career following the 2006 Commonwealth Games. "I'd had quite a rough time after the [2006 Commonwealth] Games, training on my own and not really having a team around me or anyone I could turn to. I was in quite a bad space mentally. I faced the choice of either giving up swimming altogether or doing something totally different with it, so I chose to move overseas. Australia wasn't really an option as I didn't have the funding. I went to the United States of America because I knew I'd be able to get some kind of athletic scholarship. It's always been very important to me to combine swimming with my education. I'm not really OK with just swimming by itself. That's why the United States of America was a good option." (stuff.co.nz, 08 Apr 2011)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs "I have developed the habit of getting a manicure before important swimming competitions and usually choose a different colour each time. I remember my nail colours from many competitions as far back as London 2012. My favourite is classic red - I love it." (stuff.co.nz, 19 Nov 2015)