Laurie Lawrence

Laurie Joseph Lawrence (born 14 October 1941) is an Australian swimming coach. He was also an Australia national rugby union team member in 1964. where his father, Alan 'Stumpy' Lawrence, worked as a publican during the war years. and then Kelvin Grove Teachers College. He played rugby union to get a scholarship to be a Phys Ed teacher, which led to his selection for the 1964 international tour of New Zealand. He inherited from Talbot the responsibility for young Stephen Holland, whom he guided to a world record and world championship in 1973. His best known protégés include Steve Holland, Tracey Wickham, Jon Sieben and Duncan Armstrong. His Olympic coaching achievements include 10 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze medals from swimmers he has directly assisted. Swimmers he has coached boast 23 world records. He also coached Australian swimmers at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

Lawrence's involvement with Australian Olympic swimming continued in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with a brief to unite, inspire, motivate and relax the entire team.

Other interests In 1988, Lawrence launched a Kids Alive Drowning Prevention Campaign to combat the problem of accidental death by drowning in the under five age group. With support from the federal government and community service advertising, the program runs nationally. He has researched, documented and developed a program which is now internationally recognised

Lawrence is also a motivational speaker.

Family Lawrence married Jocelyn in 1974. They have three children, all of whom are employed at the Laurie Lawrence Swim School in Brisbane.

Honours Lawrence was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1991 and received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.