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Lisa
The long-awaited memoir of one of Australia's most enduring and inspiring sporting icons.
Triple Olympian and wellness entrepreneur Lisa Curry has lived her life in the public eye for six decades. In this very personal memoir, she shares the untold story of being Lisa.
A swimming prodigy who became one of Australia's first fitness entrepreneurs, Lisa Curry swam to Olympic fame in the '80s and '90s. With celerity and celebrity, she became in equal parts the darling of women's magazines and tabloid fodder, until, at 58, a family tragedy nearly consumed her. From the golden girl of Australian swimming to a 'super mum' and now a proud grannie, Lisa Curry has a powerful story to tell of endurance and enduring.
In 1972, ten-year-old Lisa escaped the heat of a hot and muggy Brisbane day in the local pool when she was spotted by Dawn Fraser's legendary swim coach, Harry Gallagher. Within two years of joining his swim squad, Lisa would be one of the fastest swimmers of her age in the world.
Over the next 23 years, Lisa honed her natural talent with a legendary work ethic and a punishing training ritual of 5 am starts. Countless hours of long, unbroken swimming of up to 60km a week in solitary union with the black lines of the pool would take Lisa to three Olympic Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, and Barcelona 1992; three Commonwealth Games; and two World Championships. By the time Lisa called time on her sporting career, she had become the only Australian to hold Commonwealth and Australian records in every stroke except backstroke, and from 50 to 400 metres, a feat that has not been repeated to this day.
In this funny, heartbreaking but always life-affirming memoir, Lisa Curry reflects on a life well lived and the experiences that shaped swimming, family, marriage, divorce, and love found again. It is a powerful story of resilience, of highs and lows, and of starting out and starting again.
Triple Olympian and wellness entrepreneur Lisa Curry has lived her life in the public eye for six decades. In this very personal memoir, she shares the untold story of being Lisa.
A swimming prodigy who became one of Australia's first fitness entrepreneurs, Lisa Curry swam to Olympic fame in the '80s and '90s. With celerity and celebrity, she became in equal parts the darling of women's magazines and tabloid fodder, until, at 58, a family tragedy nearly consumed her. From the golden girl of Australian swimming to a 'super mum' and now a proud grannie, Lisa Curry has a powerful story to tell of endurance and enduring.
In 1972, ten-year-old Lisa escaped the heat of a hot and muggy Brisbane day in the local pool when she was spotted by Dawn Fraser's legendary swim coach, Harry Gallagher. Within two years of joining his swim squad, Lisa would be one of the fastest swimmers of her age in the world.
Over the next 23 years, Lisa honed her natural talent with a legendary work ethic and a punishing training ritual of 5 am starts. Countless hours of long, unbroken swimming of up to 60km a week in solitary union with the black lines of the pool would take Lisa to three Olympic Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, and Barcelona 1992; three Commonwealth Games; and two World Championships. By the time Lisa called time on her sporting career, she had become the only Australian to hold Commonwealth and Australian records in every stroke except backstroke, and from 50 to 400 metres, a feat that has not been repeated to this day.
In this funny, heartbreaking but always life-affirming memoir, Lisa Curry reflects on a life well lived and the experiences that shaped swimming, family, marriage, divorce, and love found again. It is a powerful story of resilience, of highs and lows, and of starting out and starting again.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2022
46 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 31, 2022
I listened to this being read by Lisa herself and highly recommend it. It was great hearing her bring the book to life, and she doesn't hold back with the emotions which come from her words.
Lisa recounts her life: her childhood, her swimming career, her marriage(s), business ventures, charitable ventures, and her children. There's a lot about Jaimi's life for obvious reasons, it's all a bit raw for Lisa. She struggled to read the chapter about Jaimi's death and it's really moving.
Lisa is a very headstrong woman and has achieved a lot in her life. I admire her.
Lisa recounts her life: her childhood, her swimming career, her marriage(s), business ventures, charitable ventures, and her children. There's a lot about Jaimi's life for obvious reasons, it's all a bit raw for Lisa. She struggled to read the chapter about Jaimi's death and it's really moving.
Lisa is a very headstrong woman and has achieved a lot in her life. I admire her.
July 19, 2022
I listened to the audiobook and it was wonderful, raw, and very emotional. Lisa Curry delves into her life, spending a lot of time reflecting on the grief she faces losing her daughter to an eating disorder. There were many times that, like Lisa, I was in tears throughout this memoir! Thank you Lisa for sharing your story - you have achieved so much in your life.
June 5, 2023
So raw and beautifully told, I cried with you.
April 21, 2024
The writing wasn't great, which always makes getting through a book difficult. I felt off reading a lot of parts, and couldn't help seeing Lisa as arrogant in ignorant in many aspects of her life. The parts she wrote about her daughter were heartbreaking, and I feel very sorry for what they all went through. But aside from that, I didn't enjoy the bio unfortunately.
December 28, 2022
Reading this made me realise there’s so much more to Lisa than swimming & her marriage to Grant Kenny. Sure her high profile has given her some advantages but she’s also highly motivated & a perfectionist. Listening to the audio was very raw & emotional & I was sobbing listening to Lisa read about her daughter Jaimi’s illness & the impact it had on her family. I hope one day Lisa finds her inner peace.
June 30, 2022
Lisa reads her own life story with emotion and honesty. Loved this book and the genuine account of Lisa, a true champion and above all else a devoted mother.
May 30, 2022
An Aussie Icon as well as an incredible athlete. Lisa is truly a woman who is not afraid of her next challenge, whatever that my be. Her strive to win is awe inspiring and her internal drive relentless. There should be more effort from Australia to give Lisa her Olympic medals she rightfully won. If it wasn't for the East German drug cheating scandal in Moscow 1980 which ruled the Olympic Swimming events and robbed so many athletes of their deserved medals. So many chapters in Lisa's life were all unveiled candidly throughout the book and I enjoyed every single one.
Her honest and emotional story about her gorgeous daughter Jaimi will have you wanting to wrap your arms around her. She tells it with love, care and compassion from a loving Mother's heart.
Lisa, you're a gem and I absolutely devoured your memoir of your 60 years of life beautiful Lady.
Her honest and emotional story about her gorgeous daughter Jaimi will have you wanting to wrap your arms around her. She tells it with love, care and compassion from a loving Mother's heart.
Lisa, you're a gem and I absolutely devoured your memoir of your 60 years of life beautiful Lady.
December 17, 2024
Wow. This book really got me in three ways. To start off with, it was interesting reading about her swimming career and how it all happened….so much of her life took place in areas I know, so there was a familiarity about it. It felt like an interesting historical account of her life.
Then it moved on to her career after swimming which I found really inspiring. I was not aware how many roles she had, or how many causes she supported.
The final part of the book was about her family and dealing with her daughter’s mental illness and eventual death. And the grieving process afterwards. It was such an honest and raw account of her life, and grief.
I felt like the book ended quite suddenly and left me feeling really sad. It was thought provoking and confronting.
Then it moved on to her career after swimming which I found really inspiring. I was not aware how many roles she had, or how many causes she supported.
The final part of the book was about her family and dealing with her daughter’s mental illness and eventual death. And the grieving process afterwards. It was such an honest and raw account of her life, and grief.
I felt like the book ended quite suddenly and left me feeling really sad. It was thought provoking and confronting.
September 20, 2022
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I have always admired you even more so now after reading this book. It is a honest , emotional account of your life including your swimming career, your marriage , children and business life. It brought back many memories of watching you as a teenager. I felt your emotions, your happiness, sadness and also laughed with you.
December 14, 2022
Honest, authentic and raw in parts. Such an inspiring lady and typical down-to-earth Queenslander -loved it.
September 14, 2023
Lisa was so honest and open when writing. She is so much more than a champion swimmer.
July 21, 2022
Enjoyed this on audio. Lisa tells her story well. I think because my youngest daughter has started to competitively swim in the past year I enjoyed it that much more. It is such a huge commitment for families not just the swimmer. And to accomplish as much as she has on top of her swimming accomplishments is incredible.
June 21, 2022
Lisa you are simply amazing. This memoir is the real deal, completely down to earth, comical, educational and most of all totally heart breaking …. An incredibly good read, I recommend this to everyone
June 19, 2022
honest well written a behind the scenes look at her life
June 14, 2022
A powerful life story of resilience, of highs and lows, heartbreak and sadness plus alot of love.
Lisa is an Australian icon.
Lisa is an Australian icon.
July 30, 2022
Living in a country that has such a focus on sport the names of sporting people become very well known. Participating in or watching a sport was almost a given when I was growing up. Major events such as a Commonwealth Games or Olympics were something to be watched, thus I have some early memories of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and the name of the swimming star Lisa Curry. Her words in her story enlightened and entertained me but they also moved me to tears.
August 4, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book,
August 18, 2022
Lisa Curry has lived a memorable life. She is well-known as an Australian swimming icon in Olympic and Commonwealth Games competition and her account of this period of her life, which extended over a considerable period from her late tweens to late thirties and is an insight into the regimented and disciplined life of the top athlete. After that period the reader can feel her restlessness after he marriage to champion iron-man Grant Kenny and her fitness training and health and wellness business . I met her during this period as my PR client was Uncle Toby's oats and Lisa became the 'face' of their National swimming sponsorship and drive top unearth new swimming talent. She was truly the 'golden girl' at this stage as she looked like a 'million bucks' as well as busting out of her skin in good health. But the book feels like a very honest and authentic portrait of Lisa with the last paragraph being about as moving and saddest part of an autobiography as I have ever read. In it she tells the story of the death of her first daughter Jaimi due to an eating disorder, which has got to be the most heart wrenching thing that can ever happen to a parent. The book has many lessons for a reader, ranging from the need to set goals and train to achieve them. I'm happy to recommend it as a very interesting and instructive book to read.
February 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this memoir of Lisa Curry, an Aussie Commonwealth Gold medallist and Olympic swimmer. It is written in an easy readable style, just as if Lisa was chatting to us. It gave us a rare glimpse into the mindset of an elite swimmer and the hard grind required to reach the top of the pile. Lisa had outstanding work ethics and her ego sometimes comes to the fore due her competitiveness and overwhelming desire to win at all costs. She used anything to get an edge over her rivals.
I was really interested in the swimming world and being given an insight to the personalities of Joe King and Don Talbot amongst others. Plus the different training techniques used by coaches and gym trainers.
This book is sometimes a hard read with an emotional and raw expose of the eating disorder that claimed the life of Lisa's eldest daughter Jaimi. She didn't hold back explaining the rollercoaster ride Jaimi's illness put upon the family and the lack of medical resources at the time. Jaimi drowned her traumas with alcohol which added another layer of complexity to get treatment.
I'm sure that Lisa will use her personal loss for the greater good of others. That is just the sort of person she is and we will all be rooting for her!!
I was really interested in the swimming world and being given an insight to the personalities of Joe King and Don Talbot amongst others. Plus the different training techniques used by coaches and gym trainers.
This book is sometimes a hard read with an emotional and raw expose of the eating disorder that claimed the life of Lisa's eldest daughter Jaimi. She didn't hold back explaining the rollercoaster ride Jaimi's illness put upon the family and the lack of medical resources at the time. Jaimi drowned her traumas with alcohol which added another layer of complexity to get treatment.
I'm sure that Lisa will use her personal loss for the greater good of others. That is just the sort of person she is and we will all be rooting for her!!
November 11, 2022
Omg this was heartbreaking, exhilarating, encouraging and motivational all at the same time.
Lisa Curry you are inspirational!
I loved reading about Lisa’s swimming career and her relationships with other swimmers and the public. I ran into Lisa at the Sydney Olympics and she was ever so gracious agreeing to stop for a photo with me even though her group wanted to keep going. She really does practice what she preaches.
All through this book she was kind and thoughtful with the words she said about people, even about the East Germans who ‘stole’ her medals. I’m not sure I would have been so kind.
Lisa Curry is a force to be reckoned with when she puts her mind to it. John Howard certainly new what he was doing when he put her in charge of Australia Day.
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was read by Lisa. I found myself crying with her as she spoke about Jamie and I really wanted to reach out and hug her which is huge as I’m not a touchy feely person..lol
Thankyou for this book Lisa. Everyone should read this book.
Lisa Curry you are inspirational!
I loved reading about Lisa’s swimming career and her relationships with other swimmers and the public. I ran into Lisa at the Sydney Olympics and she was ever so gracious agreeing to stop for a photo with me even though her group wanted to keep going. She really does practice what she preaches.
All through this book she was kind and thoughtful with the words she said about people, even about the East Germans who ‘stole’ her medals. I’m not sure I would have been so kind.
Lisa Curry is a force to be reckoned with when she puts her mind to it. John Howard certainly new what he was doing when he put her in charge of Australia Day.
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was read by Lisa. I found myself crying with her as she spoke about Jamie and I really wanted to reach out and hug her which is huge as I’m not a touchy feely person..lol
Thankyou for this book Lisa. Everyone should read this book.
August 2, 2022
I really enjoyed listening to Lisa share her life story on Audible. I wanted to know more about her. She has been featured so heavily in the Australian media but I felt like she wasn't always portrayed in a fair way.
Her recount is of one incredibly strong and inspirational woman. Most of it is easy listening and brought back memories of my own upbringing in Australia.
Lisa's raw and honest account of her daughter's mental health decline is heartbreaking. Difficult listening for any parent. I needed a box of tissues. I can't even begin to imagine the pain. Lisa was very strong and brave to share her story with us.
Thank you Lisa x
Her recount is of one incredibly strong and inspirational woman. Most of it is easy listening and brought back memories of my own upbringing in Australia.
Lisa's raw and honest account of her daughter's mental health decline is heartbreaking. Difficult listening for any parent. I needed a box of tissues. I can't even begin to imagine the pain. Lisa was very strong and brave to share her story with us.
Thank you Lisa x
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2024
I absolutely loved listening to this audiobook read by Lisa herself. My heart broke so many times for her from never being awarded her deserved medals at the Olympics, to the absolute raw emotion of the loss of her daughter Jaimi. Ironically, I finished this book the day after Jaimi’s birthday, weird how you decide to read or listen to something at a certain time! Really enjoyed the emphasis she put on the determination it took to become a professional Olympic athlete, and a few times I skipped back so my 11 year old son could listen to ‘what it takes’, but also the lessons learned beyond just winning. A lovely memoir ❤️
June 12, 2022
A down to earth account of Lisa’s life from the beginning to facing 60 orbits of the sun. Listening to an audiobook, read by the author, allowed one to hear the enthusiasm & heartbreak felt over this life. It allows us to get a feeling of what it means to be so in the public eye, and the effects of doping in sport. One can now only imagine what allowing transgender athletes compete against our women athletes. This is not a subject mentioned by Lisa.
Well worth the read.
I give this a rating of 4.5 stars.
Well worth the read.
I give this a rating of 4.5 stars.
December 30, 2023
I read a LOT of biographies and this one is outstanding. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Lisa and it was such a rollercoaster ride of the highest highs and lowest of lows, with Lisa at times in tears when sharing the story leading to the loss of her beloved daughter. It also took me back to fun times with my family when in my tweens, cheering her on during the Commonweath games and Olympics. Lisa is an authentic and inspiring human!
September 7, 2022
Ah Lisa what a life you have lived, filling every gap with strength, action and tenacity.
Life is never easy and you have faced your challenges full on.
My heart breaks for you. Whatever is on the path before you, know that your heart will show you the way, surrounded by the love of your family and grandies, who so need you. They will help heal your broken heart. 💕
Life is never easy and you have faced your challenges full on.
My heart breaks for you. Whatever is on the path before you, know that your heart will show you the way, surrounded by the love of your family and grandies, who so need you. They will help heal your broken heart. 💕
November 29, 2022
Lisa tells us all about her swimming career and her life after that. I found it very interesting. The ordeal of her daughter's death was heart-breaking to hear (I listened to Lisa reading her book), I felt intrusive almost.
September 18, 2023
I enjoyed this audiobook. I find Lisa’s story interesting and remember her being in the mags (and everywhere!) when I was little. To hear her read her chapters about losing her daughter was really powerful and sad. She wrote honestly and beautifully about grief and her life I would recommend.
September 28, 2024
I know people close to Jaimi and I also lost my sister to mental illness and thought of my mom a lot and how she also had broken heart syndrome when losing Cara. My favourite parts of the book were photos and writings about Jaimi
June 18, 2022
I loved this book! Written with so much emotion - it was wonderful 😊
July 2, 2022
One of the memoirs I've read yet
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews