▁also ▁allow ▁her ▁to ▁avoid ▁potentially ▁back - dam aging ▁t umble ▁turns . ▁ ▁Taylor - Smith ' s ▁first ▁major ▁achiev ement ▁was ▁breaking ▁the ▁world ▁four - mile ▁record ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁Sub sequently , ▁she ▁won ▁the ▁Manh attan ▁Island ▁Mar athon ▁Sw im ▁five ▁times , ▁breaking ▁the ▁world ▁record ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁for ▁sw imming ▁the ▁ 4 8   km ▁distance ▁in ▁five ▁hours , ▁ 4 5 ▁minutes ▁and ▁ 2 5 ▁seconds . ▁She ▁also ▁won ▁the ▁Australian ▁Mar athon ▁Sw imming ▁Championships ▁three ▁times , ▁and ▁seven ▁consecutive ▁F IN A ▁Mar athon ▁World ▁Cu ps . ▁She ▁won ▁a ▁gold ▁medal ▁in ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁open ▁water ▁sw imming ▁event ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁World ▁Aqu at ics ▁Championships ▁in ▁Per th , ▁and ▁a ▁bronze ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁Championships ▁in ▁Rome . ▁ ▁Her ▁aut obi ography , ▁D anger ous ▁When ▁W et : ▁The ▁Sh elle y ▁Taylor - Smith ▁Story ▁() ▁was ▁published ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁Taylor - Smith ▁was ▁diagn osed ▁with ▁chron ic ▁fat igue ▁synd rome ▁after ▁prolong ed ▁expos ure ▁to ▁poll uted ▁water ▁and ▁Gi ard ia ▁l amb lia ▁in fection , ▁and ▁was ▁given ▁six ▁months ▁to ▁live . ▁She ▁non eth eless ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁her ▁fifth ▁consecutive ▁Manh attan ▁Island ▁mar athon