Oonagh Witsitt

Gold Medal winner at the 1930 Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada

 At the 1930 Empire Games, she finished first in the 3m diving, ahead of Doris Ogilvie and Mollie Bailey from Canada. There was no 1m event, and she did not compete in the 10m tower diving competition.

Oonagh Eleanor Allison Whitsitt was born in Durban on 1st May 1910 and became a Natal diver, whose father was the Chief Constable of the province. She later married Edward Shaw, who was to become Mayor of Durban and had a daughter Clodagh. She was a member of the Cygnus Amateur Swimming Club.

She was one of three divers who represented Natal at the 1926 South African swimming and diving championships, where she finished out of the medals. In 1927 she finished second behind Marjorie Harris. This result was repeated in 1928, and in 1929 she won the title for the first time.

In 1929 she was also a member of the Natal women's relay team, partnering with Olympic medallist Kathleen Russel and Muriel Ensore-Smth, to win the South African championship event.

At the 1930 SA Championships in Bloemfontein Oonagh Whitsitt again beat Mrs. Doods Bulley into second place with a 'wonderful running swallow dive'.

In 1934 she competed at the Commonwealth Games in London.

On August 7th, 1934 Oonagh Whitsitt finished 5th in the springboard diving at the Commonwealth Games held in London.

The Oonagh Whitsitt Cup to the winner of the women's 1m diving champion at the South African diving championships.

In the Durban suburb of Stamford Hill, there is a municipal swimming pool named in her honour, located in Sutton Park.

Since 1959  the Oonagh Whitsitt Trophy commemorates her achievements the annual South African Diving Championships, presented to the winner in the women's 1m event.