Terry was from Pretoria and swam for Northern Transvaal, where he was coached by Francis Horn. He was the only male swimmer selected to represent South Africa at the 1938 Empire and Commonwealth Games.
At the Games, the 110-yard freestyle results were:
1st Bob Pirie (CAN) - 59,6 2nd Terry Collard (SAF) 60,8 - 3rd William Fleming (AUS) 61,0
Molly Ryde and Terry Collard at the 1939 South African Championships