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Joan Harrison

1900 - 1960

1900 - 1960

In 1912 George 'Looper' Godfrey became the first Springbok swimmer when he competed at the Helsinki Olympic Games, without medal success. George "Looper" Godfrey was a legend of South African swimming, who dominated men's events before the war. In 1909 he won all the swimming events - 100, 220 and 500 freestyle - and he still swimming at nationals by 1920. Full name: George Albert Godfrey Nickname(s): Looper Born: July 26, 1888, in Durban, Natal, South Africa Died: May 22, 1965(Aged 76) in Durban, Natal, South Africa

South Africans won their first Olympic medal in swimming when the women's 4x100m freestyle relay finished in third place at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. 

In 1952 Joan Harrison won the first South African Olympic swimming gold medal, and women won another relay medal at Melbourne in 1956. The era ended with Laura Ranwell setting an Olympic record at Rome in 1960, where Natalie Stewart of Pretoria and Rhodesia competed for Great Britain, winning two medals.

Joan Harrison won the 100 freestyle at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games

The bronze medal-winning Springbok women's relay team of Kathleen Russell, Freddie van der Goes, Marie Bedford and Rhoda Rennie.

Women win first medal →

Jennie Maakal

Jenny Genoveva Maakal competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics winning the first individual Olympic medal for South AFrica - a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle event. She also placed sixth place in the 100m freestyle.

The first individual medal winner →

Joan Harrison

A native of East London, attending Clarendon High School for Girls, she swam at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, winning a gold medal in the women's 100 m backstroke.

Her story → 

 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games

The South African women's team of Moira Abernethy, Natalie Myburgh, Susan Roberts and Jeanette Myburgh won bronze in the 4 x 110yds freestyle relay.

Another ladies relay medal →

Laura Ranwell

In the 1960 Rome Olympic Games women's 100m backstroke Laura set an Olympic record in her heat, and in the final she finished with an equal time as the bronze medallist, although she was placed 4th.

Olympic record breaker →

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Aquatic Sports History of southern Africa

The history of swimming and related sports in South Africa, Rhodesia, and South West Africa from 1900 to 2000 and beyond. 

The British Empire established a base in the Cape Colony in 1806, to keep Napoleon at bay and to control the Far East trade routes around Africa. The transplanted British colonists imported their culture and norms, including a love for water sports, encouraged locally by the hot Cape summer weather. Sports clubs were established for water polo, swimming, diving and lifesaving activities.

Water festivals held in the Cape Town dry dock were popular entertainment for the Victorians. They also swam and played in rivers and dams and oceans, and built tidal pools and indoor swimming pools. Betting also played a big part in promoting sporting events. When Charteris Hooper became the first man to swim from Robben Island in 1909, he did it to win a bet.

The South African Amateur Swimming Union, with the Western Province and Eastern Province as its founder members, was established in Port Elizabeth, during the Boer War. After the war, the Swimming Union expanded to all parts of the country and Rhodesia. 

The youngest person to break senior world record

On the 10th of August, 1965, Karen Muir became  theyoungest world record holder any time in any sport when she set a new world record in the women's 110-yard backstroke.

At 12 years, 10 months, and 25 days old, swimming in the junior section of the British Swimming Championships in Blackpool, England - because she was too young to compete with the older girls in the open category!

The girl from Kimberley in the Cape had only been swimming for three years, under the guidance of an imported British coach named Frank Gray.

Karen's story →

Champions

The various categories of Champions: World record-holders; Olympic, World, or Commonwealth medalists, International stars, Paralympic champions and those who chose to stay  - the Local Heroes, while many went into exile to compete abroad.  

Champions →

Aquatic Sports

The history of swimming-related recreational and competitive water sports in southern Africa.

Water festivals included swimming, diving, water polo matches and "fancy swimming", while lifesaving competitions ensured the competence of those responsible for preventing drownings. Swimming-based multisports, like triathlons, are related modern aquatic sports.

Aquatic sports →

South African National Championships

The first championship held by the SAASU was held at Port Elizabeth in 1900. The main event was a water polo competition between Western Province and Eastern Province. The prize was one of the trophies donated by Sir Donald Currie for 

Results →

Swimmers from South Africa.

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  • 81

  • 84

  • 97

  • 103

  • 105

  • 111

  • 146

  • 157

  • 158

  • 192

  • 545

  • 1996 Marianne Kriel

  • Barabara Nash 19202

  • Butcher Patricia 1980

  • Carina Bruwer 01

  • Carmen Cutout

  • Charlene Wittstock 1

  • Charlene Wittstock 2

  • Charlene Wittstock 3

  • Cilliers Elsa WP

  • Dickie

  • Geldenhuis

  • Germishuis Dickie Muir

  • Germishuis Katinka

  • Germishuis Katinka 01

  • Germishuis Katinka 02 1972

  • Germishuis Katinka 02

  • Germishuis Sonia

  • Germushuys And Jackson

  • Goodman Carmel 02

  • Goodman Carmel Tvl 01

  • Goodman Carmel Tvl 02 1971

  • Goodman Carmel

  • Grey Sandi 02

  • Grey Sandie 03

  • Gunther Ena Paarl 1950

  • Harrison Joan 01

  • Harrison Joan 02

  • Harrison Joan D Petzer And F Loveday 1954

  • Heynes Penny 10

  • Heynes Penny 11

  • Heyns Penny 5

  • Heyns Penny 3

  • James Sally Dec 1963 1

  • Jansen Suzette N Tvl

  • Jenny Maakal 01

  • Joan Harrison

  • Jutzen Irene

  • Karen Muir 1967

  • Karen Muir

  • Karen 1979 WP Champs Newlands

  • Karin Fritch

  • Kemp Avril

  • Keri Anne Payne 2

  • Keri Anne Payne 3

  • Kinkaid Smith P Tvl

  • Kirsten Nickie WP

  • Knox Laura 1

  • Knox Laura N Tvl

  • Knox Laura

  • Koegelberg Carol EP

  • Kraan Geertjie

  • Kramer Margot 1969

  • Kramer Margot 1970

  • Kruger Marienne Wits

  • Lamont Napier Jameson

  • Lamont Moira Tvl And Van Helden Karen WP

  • Lassie Rosemary Uast 1959

  • Laura Ranwell 1960

  • Lipman Susan Tvl

  • Lludorf And Hughes 5 March 1967

  • Loftus Tessa

  • Loveday Felicity N Tvl 1954

  • Ludick Jackie N Tvl

  • Ludick Jackie

  • Ludorf Diane Tvl 1966

  • Ludorf Diane

  • Lupnow Kim EP

  • Maakal Jennie

  • Maakal Jenny 1932

  • Marias B WP U Karger West Germany Feb 1965

  • Muir Karen And Marion Lay UK 1967

  • Muir Karen Gw

  • Muir Karen

  • Natalie Gaskin

  • N Tvl Jackie Ludick Annatjie Van Heerden Katinka Germishuis Sonja Germishuisen

  • N Tvl Jackie Ludick Annatjie Van Heerden

  • Palmer Toni Tvl 1981

  • Rozowsky Loren

  • Sue Dickie

  • Tricia Butcher

  • Van Helden Karen

  • Vos Walden Van Helden

  • 1980 Anton V Niekerk

  • Andre Kotze

  • Anne Lamont And Paul Napier Jameson

  • Anton Van Niekerk Kapstad 1980

  • Anton Van Niekerk

  • Aubrey Burer Practicing Relay Link Ups 1956

  • Brian Elliot And EP Relay Team

  • Butch Hristiansen

  • CAMERON VAN DER BURGH Large

  • Chad Le Clos

  • Craig Lindeque Tvl 1981

  • Cromary Stuart

  • Dave Mc Carney

  • Dougie Eager And Anton Van Niekerk

  • Erwin Kratz 5

  • Freestyle Relay 1932

  • Gilfilian E 27 Nov 1974

  • Gordfey 11912

  • Gordfey 1912

  • Gray Allen Nov 1972

  • Gray Allen WP 1

  • Gray Nickie 02

  • Gray Nickie

  • Gray Simon 01

  • Gruhn F Union

  • Grylls Geoff EP Jan 1964

  • Grylls Geoff EP Dec 1964

  • Grylls Geoff Ep Nov 1964

  • Grylls Geoff Nov 1964

  • Honeyman Neil And Burger Gilmour WP Natonals 1953 JHB

  • Hugh Tucker

  • Inglis P Eter WP 1

  • Inglis Peter WP

  • Ivor Gordon

  • Jan Germishuisen April 1966

  • Janks Tom 01

  • Janks Tom

  • Jannie Horn

  • Japantour

  • Johnston Donald Right And Les Klenerman

  • Johnston Graham Nov 1949

  • Johnston Graham OFS Feb 1952

  • Johnston Graham 02

  • Johnston Graham 1952

  • Jonathan Crowther

  • Jonty Skinner 01

  • Jonty Skinner 2

  • Jonty Skinner 2003

  • Katz Adrian WP

  • Katz Anton WP

  • Kaz Adrian WP 1

  • Keyter John Rhod Vernon Slovin Rod Hamilton 1969 100 Fly

  • Keytor Seddon 1988

  • Keytor Seddon WP 1

  • Kilian L Defence Swim Champs 1973

  • Kim Campbell

  • Klenerman Les Tvl And Peter Duncan Feb 1951

  • Klenerman Les Tvl 1948

  • Kloppers F 1965

  • Klugman Steve WP 1

  • Klugman Steve WP 1980

  • Kotze Andre EP

  • Koyd 1

  • Koyd 2

  • Kratz Erwin 1983

  • Kratz Erwin

  • Kratz Jankelow Scheepers Cromarty 1982

  • Kritzinger Mickie Tvl 1985

  • Kropp Robert WP

  • Kropp Robert 1983

  • Kuiper Owen 1974

  • Lacey Tudor 1961

  • Lacey Tudor 1964

  • Lacey Tudor 1966

  • Le Roux E 1953

  • Le Roux Peter

  • Levy Derek WP 2

  • Levy Derek WP 1976

  • Levy Derek WP

  • Lewis David Andre Stadler WP 1984

  • Lewis David WP 1

  • Lewis David WP

  • Lith H

  • Loubscher Anton WP 1984

  • Louw Butch 1970

  • Louw D Sellenbosch 1974

  • Lyndon Ferns 2

  • Lyndon Ferns

  • Lyne Cliffie Natal

  • Mally Richards

  • Nick Reen Andrew Dean George Smullian

  • Paul Blackbeard 5

  • Paul Blackbeard Esme Oosthuisen Steve Nathan

  • Paul Blackbeardl Natal 1975

  • Peter Bales Channel Swimer

  • Peter Williams

  • Pugh Lewis

  • Quiren Kohler

  • Realyathens 02

  • Reen Jon And Geoff Grylls EP 1966

  • Relayathens 01

  • Relayathens 03

  • Relayathens 04

  • Richard Maybery SA Schools

  • Roy Clegg

  • Ryk Neethling

  • Scheepers And Mark Edge EP 1977

  • Scheepers Kobus 1980

  • Second Bennie Retief And Erwin Kratz

  • Springbok All Americans 1950 S And 1960 S

  • Springboks 1979

  • Stuart Cromarty

  • Stuert Bill A Nthony Briscoe Four Girls Who Came Third In Olympic Rlay Hillbrow Pool Johannesburg 1956

  • Terence Parkin 1

  • Terence Parkin 2

  • Townsend Darian

  • Van Der Bergh

  • Waterman Frank

  • Wooding Graham Nickie Kirsten Penny Mc Clurg WP 1985

Pools and other Places

Locations where people swim. The dams, rivers, oceans, tidal pools, swimming pools - school pools, municipal pools, club pools, dead pools and all the other places where aquatic sports history is made.

Locations →

Click the arrow on the left to set 10 different categories of pools and places.

Click the square on the right to view the full size map.