Julie McDonald is a swimmer who has competed for Australia. She competed at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympic Games.
McDonald was widely regarded as one of the most renowned Australian swimmers in the 1980s. She was the only Australian woman to win an Olympic medal at Seoul 1988 when she claimed a bronze behind the winner Janet Evans and the runner-up Astrid Strauß in the 800 metres freestyle. She also improved her lifetime best of 8:22.93 to set an Oceanian record and slice off her heat time by more than six seconds. She swam the distance-freestyle double (400 and 800) again at her next Games in Barcelona but missed the final in any of her races.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Women's 800m freestyle | 
|
| 1992 | Women's 400m freestyle | 18th |
| Women's 800m freestyle | 15th |
1988[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 metres freestyle | Heats | 8:29.68 | |
| Final | 8:22.93 | AR |
1992[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 400 metres freestyle | Heats | 4:20.16 |
| Final | Did not advance | |
| 800 metres freestyle | Heats | 8:51.59 |
| Final | Did not advance |