| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth name | John William Coutts | ||||||||||||||
| Born | (1955-08-14)14 August 1955 (age 69) Marton, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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John William Coutts (born 14 August 1955) is a former New Zealand swimmer.
Coutts was born inMarton in 1955,[1] and grew up inHastings. He received his education at Hastings Central, Hastings Intermediate, andHastings Boys' High Schools.[2] Coutts was the first person to swimCook Strait in both directions.[2]
Coutts won a bronze medal in the 200 mbutterfly at the1974 British Commonwealth Games inChristchurch, New Zealand.[3] He competed at the1975 World Aquatics Championships inCali, Colombia.[2] He representedNew Zealand at the 1976 Summer Olympics, competing in the 100 m butterfly and 200 m butterfly.[4]
Coutts was formerly a director of Carlile Swimming, the largest private swimming school in the world,[2] originally set up by Australian swimming legendForbes Carlile and his wife Ursula Carlile.[5]
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]
