Shane Gould, 47, took on Australia's best young butterfly swimmers yesterday and finished last in her heat as she bid to prove older people could lead active sporting lifestyles.

　　The winner of three individual gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Gould clocked a time of 30.61 seconds in the 50 meters butterfly as she failed to qualify for the semifinals at the Australian national championships.

　　"I'll have to come back next year," Gould told reporters at Sydney's Olympic pool. "I'd really like to do it again but that's the thing. You only get one go.

　　"I put myself on the line. My heart rate was 140 in the stands and I was just sitting there. (I felt) like a 10-year-old. It really is like my first nationals again. There's a lot of stuff to learn."

　　The women's 50 meters butterfly is a non-Olympic event. Gould's time, which she described as disappointing, placed her 61st among the 66 entries.

　　Gould once held all women's freestyle world records from 100 to 1,500 meters but retired after one Olympic campaign.

　　The shy teenager was overwhelmed by her high profile and took refuge in God, surfing and an alternative lifestyle at Margaret River, a popular coastal town in Western Australia.

　　Now a mother of four adult children, Gould has returned to swimming and won gold in the 50 butterfly at last year's US Masters in 30.32.

　　The Western Australian said she was inspired by the sight of swimmers and other Masters Games athletes in their seventies and eighties competing and enjoying being outdoors.

　　"I feel I'm doing it with them and for them. That takes the pressure off me," Gould said of her role as a pioneer for older athletes.

　　One of Australia's greatest swimmers, Gould won seven titles and set a world record in the 1,500 freestyle at the national championships in 1973 as a 16-year-old before becoming a recluse.

　　A year earlier, Gould won the 200 and 400 freestyle and 200 individual medley at the Munich Olympics, also picking up silver in the 800 freestyle and bronze in the 100 freestyle.

　　(Reuters)