Daisy Curwen (6 December 1889 – 25 June 1982) was a former British swimmer world record holder in the 100 m freestyle.[1] Curwen competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, but could not start in the final race any more due to an appendectomy during the event.[2]

Daisy Curwen
Personal information
Full nameMargaret Daisy Curwen
NationalityBritish
Born(1889-12-06)6 December 1889
Liverpool, England
Died25 June 1982(1982-06-25) (aged 92)
Wallasey, England
Sport
SportSwimming

Biography

edit

Curwen was born in December 1889 in Liverpool, England.[2] She began swimming with her local club in Liverpool when she was 13.[2] Between 1903 and 1917, Curwen won the Liverpool and District 100 yards freestyle event fourteen times.[2] Curwen broke the world record for the 100 metres freestyle twice, first in September 1911 and again in June 1912.[2][3] She also set six more world records in events from the 100 to 300 yards.[4]

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, Curwen competed in the women's 100 metre freestyle event.[5] In her heat, Curwen set a new Olympic record.[5] She went on to qualify for the final of the race, but was unable to start, after suffering with appendicitis which required surgery.[5][6] As a result, Curwen also missed an opportunity to swim in the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay race,[2] where Great Britain won the gold medal.[7]

Curwen did not compete in swimming after World War I.[2] She died in Wallasey in June 1982 at the age of 92.[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Miss Curwen with a new world record". Pay Up Liverpool. 30 May 1912. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Daisy Curwen". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. ^ "WOMEN'S SWIMMING RECORD.; Miss Daisy Curwen Does 100 Meters In 1:23 1-5 In Olympic Trial". The New York Times. 11 May 1912. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  4. ^ "MERSEYSIDE'S 100 OLYMPIANS 100 No 99: DAISY CURWEN". The Free Library. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "100 metres Freestyle, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Merseyside Olympian number 99: Daisy blossomed but missed out on Olympic medal". Liverpool Echo. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  7. ^ "4 x 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
edit
Records
Preceded by Women's 100 m freestyle
world record-holder (long course)

29 September 1911 – 9 July 1912
Succeeded by