Dawn Fraser: Olympic hero recovering after hip replacement, broken ribs following bad fall

Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser has undergone a hip replacement and is recovering well according to reports from her family and Swimming Australia.

Fraser, 87, landed in intensive care after a fall at her daughter’s home in Queensland at the end of last month and had to undergo emergency surgery for several injuries including broken ribs and a broken hip.

The ABC is reporting that close friend and long time Swimming Australia media man Ian Hanson said he had spoken to Fraser on Monday and she was back up walking again after emergency surgery last Thursday.

Mr Hanson said Fraser broke her hip and four ribs in a fall five days ago.

“Dawn is already making amazing progress — her doctors reading her the riot act for walking too far,” Mr Hanson said.

“She greeted family and friends today with a smile, determined to get out of bed by herself and walking through the hospital with all of her grit and determination that made her one of the all-time greats of Olympic sport.”

Mr Hanson said Fraser had been supported by daughter Dawn-Lorraine and grandson Jackson, who “have been by her side through what has been a frightening ordeal”.

When he spoke to her on Monday he told her: “I heard you’ve been having a bit of a rough trot. I want you to make sure that you hit this last turn and bring in the six-beat kick and get off that turn as hard as you can.”

Fraser replied: “I’ve come off the turn, Hanso, and I’m on the way home.”

In a statement Fraser’s family said the Olympic golden girl had given them all a fright, but Dawn was now stable and recovering.

“Dawn is already making amazing progress,” the statement read.

“Her doctors read her the riot act for ‘walking too far’. She greeted family and friends today (Monday) with a smile, determined to get out of bed by herself and walking through the hospital with all of her grit determination that made her one of the all-time greats of Olympic sport.

“Dawn has had continued support from her daughter Dawn-Lorraine and grandson Jackson who have been by her side through what has been a frightening ordeal.”

Fraser’s daughter, Dawn-Lorraine added: “Mum has scared the daylights out of us … but to see her up and about today is the best Christmas present we could have asked for.

“She is one tough lady. Huge thanks to the doctors and nursing staff who have been amazing. I can’t thank them enough. They could not be happier with Mum’s progress.”

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse released a statement on Monday evening echoing the concens and well wishes of the Australian public.

“We have heard back from the family and as we understand Dawn is stable,” Woodhouse said.

“Dawn is an Australian living treasure – an icon of our sport – and we wish her a speedy, healthy and fully [sic] recovery.”

Dawn Fraser is regarded as one of Australia’s national sporting icons and greatest ever Olympians.

Her Olympic medal record stands at eight, including four gold and four silver.

She was the first swimmer of either gender to win the same event across three Olympics and remains one of only four swimmers to have achieved that feat, including Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi and American greats Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

Fraser was denied the chance to win a fourth Olympic 100m freestyle title at the 1968 Mexico Olympics after the Australian Swimming Union banned her for 10 years.

Fraser defied the ASU by marching in the opening ceremony at the 1964 Tokyo Games and refused to swim in a suit that had been supplied by Australian team sponsors.

She was also accused of stealing an Olympic flag from a flagpole outside Emperor Hirohito’s palace and arrested but was released without charge.