Karen Moras
Encyclopedia
Karen Lynne Moras known after marriage as Karen Moras-Stephenson was an Australia
n distance freestyle
swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s who won a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
. Although she set multiple world records she peaked between Olympics and was unable to capture gold at Olympic level.
Trained by Forbes Carlile
, and making her international debut as a fourteen year-old prodigy, Moras was expected to win medals at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. She struggled, however, to adapt to the rarefied air at high altitude conditions and required medical treatment for breathing difficulties and hyperventilation
. Despite this Moras managed to salvage a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle, behind the American
duo of Debbie Meyer
and Linda Gustavson
. She nearly claimed a second bronze in the 800 m freestyle, being beaten into fourth by 0.1 s by Mexico
's Maria Teresa Ramírez
who was much more adapted to the local conditions.
In 1970 Moras broke the 800 m freestyle world record at the Australian Championships, qualifying for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
. She was the dominant swimmer at the Games, winning the 200 m, 400 m and 800 m freestyle events, cutting 7 seconds off her 800 m freestyle world record in the process. Her winning time in the 400 m freestyle was less than a second outside Meyer's world record.
On Moras' return to Australia a new swimmer, Shane Gould
, had joined Carlile's group and by the end of the year Gould had defeated Moras in state-level carnivals. In 1971, after Gould claimed every freestyle world record from 100 m to 1500 m, Moras left Carlile's group to train under Don Talbot
, feeling that Carlile was spending too much time focusing on Gould.
Moras qualified to represent Australia at the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle and the 400 m individual medley, but failed to reach the final in any of the events. She retired from competitive swimming after the Olympics. Her sister, Narelle Moras, also competed at the Munich Games, finishing eighth in the 800 m freestyle.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n distance freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s who won a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Although she set multiple world records she peaked between Olympics and was unable to capture gold at Olympic level.
Trained by Forbes Carlile
Forbes Carlile
Forbes Carlile MBE was Australia's first post-World War II Olympics swimming coach and later Australia's first competitor in the modern pentathlon at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He remains the only person to have coached and later competed at the Olympic Games.Born in Armadale, Victoria,...
, and making her international debut as a fourteen year-old prodigy, Moras was expected to win medals at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. She struggled, however, to adapt to the rarefied air at high altitude conditions and required medical treatment for breathing difficulties and hyperventilation
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation or overbreathing is the state of breathing faster or deeper than normal, causing excessive expulsion of circulating carbon dioxide. It can result from a psychological state such as a panic attack, from a physiological condition such as metabolic acidosis, can be brought about by...
. Despite this Moras managed to salvage a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle, behind the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
duo of Debbie Meyer
Debbie Meyer
Deborah Elizabeth Meyer is a former American swimmer who won the 200, 400, and 800 m swimming events at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City...
and Linda Gustavson
Linda Gustavson
Linda Gustavson is an American swimmer and Olympic champion. She competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where she received a gold medal in 4 × 100 m freestyle, a silver medal in 400 m freestyle, and a bronze medal in 100 m freestyle.-References:*...
. She nearly claimed a second bronze in the 800 m freestyle, being beaten into fourth by 0.1 s by Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's Maria Teresa Ramírez
Maria Teresa Ramírez
María Teresa Ramírez Gómez is a retired female freestyle and backstroke swimmer from Mexico. She represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in Mexico City . She won the bronze medal in the Women's 800m Freestyle event at the 1968 Summer Olympics.-References:*...
who was much more adapted to the local conditions.
In 1970 Moras broke the 800 m freestyle world record at the Australian Championships, qualifying for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. She was the dominant swimmer at the Games, winning the 200 m, 400 m and 800 m freestyle events, cutting 7 seconds off her 800 m freestyle world record in the process. Her winning time in the 400 m freestyle was less than a second outside Meyer's world record.
On Moras' return to Australia a new swimmer, Shane Gould
Shane Gould
Shane Elizabeth Gould, MBE is an Australian former swimmer who won three gold medals, a silver and bronze in 1972 Summer Olympics. It was the greatest performance by an Australian at a single Olympics.-Biography:...
, had joined Carlile's group and by the end of the year Gould had defeated Moras in state-level carnivals. In 1971, after Gould claimed every freestyle world record from 100 m to 1500 m, Moras left Carlile's group to train under Don Talbot
Don Talbot
Don Talbot OBE is an Olympic swimming coach from Australia. He has coached national teams for Canada and Australia.-Canada:Since the 1950s Talbot has coached Olympic champions and World Record holders for a thirty year period...
, feeling that Carlile was spending too much time focusing on Gould.
Moras qualified to represent Australia at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle and the 400 m individual medley, but failed to reach the final in any of the events. She retired from competitive swimming after the Olympics. Her sister, Narelle Moras, also competed at the Munich Games, finishing eighth in the 800 m freestyle.