Golden Year

Sun Herald

Sunday November 30, 2008

Shelly Horton

Christmas is a rare day off training for Olympic champion Stephanie Rice. But with presents to open, there'll be no sleeping in, she tells Shelly Horton.

What a difference a year can make. Last year Stephanie Rice spent Christmas feeling anxious about the looming Olympics, this year she's a triple gold medallist and a media darling with her eye on even bigger goals.

"Christmas is the most important family day that we have. My parents are divorced but I just love getting together with both sides of the family," she says.

"My parents accommodate what I'm doing. They always just sort it out, which is really great because I want to be with them both."

Twenty-year-old Rice maintains that childish twinkle in her eye when she talks about Christmas.

"I always want to open presents first thing in the morning. So after that I pretty much have a family breakfast with my Dad and step mum and half brother - then I go to Mum's at lunchtime with the rest of my family. So it's like a double Christmas, which is great but it also means I have to buy more and more presents!"

Not that she has to worry about a budget this year. Her booming profile post-Beijing has landed her rich contracts with Speedo, Telstra and Davenport as well as a reported $700,000 two-year agreement with Channel Seven.

Brisbane-based Rice isn't afraid to spend her new-found wealth either. She's a typical young woman who loves to shop.

"I love shopping in Sydney. And now it's a bit more fun for me because I'm not just going there for swimming. I've had lots of trips to Sydney and I love the excitment of going into great shops and checking out new designers. I really love Oxford Street," she enthuses.

The last time she gave the credit card a workout in Sin City she was shopping with her then beau Eamon Sullivan after the World Titles.

"We went into every shop and basically blew my all of my prize money," she confides.

That would be $20,000. That's a lot of new outfits.

But with the perks have come the downsides of being in the public eye. The now famous Facebook photos of her partying have been replaced with camera-phone shots of her dancing during a holiday in Thailand.

"My life has definitely changed a lot. It's been a massive whirlwind that I could never have prepared for," she says.

After breaking up with Sullivan on the eve of the Olympics she was then linked with US golden boy Michael Phelps. Something she emphatically denies, insisting she is very single.

But she's philosophical about the interest in her love life.

"I think coming into the Olympic spotlight that's how I was known. I was Eamon's girlfriend, so starting my media life as part of a couple has meant my private life was automatically public. I guess it's hard to change that. It's the only thing I've had ups and downs with really."

But you don't have to worry about Rice changing to suit other people.

"I'm going to live my life and not worry about pleasing anyone else. Now I'm in the spotlight it makes me want to train harder. I'm not exactly going to wear make-up around the pool in case someone takes a photo. Swimming is my job."

It's a tough job too. She's up at 5am each day for a three-hour training session in the pool. That is followed by running and general exercise. Then she has breakfast before hitting the gym for weight training. She finishes up at about 10.30am.

"Then from 10.30am to 3pm I do my sponsor and media commitments or work with my management team. I always try to get a nap in, too, otherwise you get run down."

From 3pm to 6.30pm it's back in the pool. "I do love it. I'm close with the rest of the squad so you really are spending time with your friends. I could never swim by myself," she says.

"Sure it's a bit boring, but I sing songs to myself or plan my next meal or make a to-do list for the day. It gives you lots of personal time because you can't hear anything."

One job she's loving is her gig with Channel Seven. After swimming she wants to work in the media or fashion.

"I filmed a bit with Make Me A Supermodel and just did a segment with Better Homes And Gardens. I get to show everyone around my family home, which I think is great because it's very normal."

In October she had a week's holiday in New York and it will be the last time she has a week off until the London Olympics in 2012.

"I won't be able to plan another holiday until after London. If I make it into the team that is," she laughs.

"But I was organised on the America trip so I did buy lots of Christmas presents for my family. So many I had to pay excess baggage on the way back!"

Favourite Sydney bar: The Argyle, 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks.

Favourite food: Veges and salad.

Favourite drink: Frozen margarita.

Favourite movie: White Chicks.

Favourite TV show: Gossip Girl.

Last time you laughed: When I saw the newspaper photo of me in Thailand.

Last time you cried: When all that media stuff was written about me not going to all the welcome home parades.

Favourite colour: Bright orange.

Jennifer or Angelina: Definitely Angelina.

First celebrity crush: Pierce Brosnan when he was 007.

Party trick: I can touch my nose with my tongue.

Tattoos: Two, a star on my foot and I just got Beijing 2008 and the Olympic rings under my tricep.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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