Ann Fairlie - world record holder
Ann Fairlie of Johannesburg set three backstroke world records in 1966. She burst into the South African swimming scene at age 13 when she set a South African record for the 100m backstroke in late 1962. At the 1963 South African championships in Pretoria Ann Fairlie became the youngest swimmers to be awarded Springbok colours when she was selected to compete against a visiting Dutch team that year.
She won this event at the next three South African championships 1963 -1965 - until the great dual with Karen Muir, Cathy Ferguson and Kiki Caron ended her run at Durban in 1966.
Ann was coached by Cecil Colwin until they she moved to Frank Gray briefly in 1967. She did set a new South African record for the 220 yards freestyle in February 1967, but by then Karen Muir was at the height of her powers, and there was little chance for Ann to win any more South African titles. After nationals in Johannesburg Ann was chosen for the Springbok team in 1967, to swim against the visiting Canadian team, and again to tour overseas in July. She did compete against the Canadians but did not join the Springbok tour to Europe.
Ann married fellow Transvaal swimmer dr. Otto Thaning, who is famous for being the oldest person to swim the English channel at age 73, in 2014, and Robben Island in 2021 at age 80.
Like Joan Harrison and Karen Muir, she was also a talented freestyle swimmer and annexed the 110 yards freestyle titles at both 1965 and 1966 South African nationals.
The great rivalry between Ann and Karen is well illustrated by the fact that her world record of 1:08,6 achieved at Kimberley on 21st February 1966 was eclipsed five days later by Karen at Durban with a time of 1:08,3 and reduced to 1:08,0 at the same venue three days later.
The year 1966 stands out as the 'peak' of a great career, for in addition to her three world records, Ann won a 100m freestyle event at Beziers against some of the world's best and then went on to win the American 100m backstroke title in an AAU record time of 1:07,9.
Like Karen, she has been the proud recipient of the State President's Sports Merit Award, an honour thoroughly deserved be a fine swimmer who epitomised all that is best in sport.
Ann with Karen Muir at Durban in 1966, and below - Ann before nationals in 1967.
In January 1967 Ann Fairlie moves to Kimberley to train with Frank Gray. By the Karen Muir had moved to Pretoria, and Ann had broken with her coach Cecil Colwin.
Ann Fairlie’s first world record - Kimberley, 21 February 1966
Ann Fairlie's second world record - Beziers - 23 July 1966
Ann Fairlie's third world record - August 26, 1966
