Daisy Curwen

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

Daisy Curwen, later known by her married name Margaret Wright,[1] (6 December 1889 – 25 June 1982) was a former British swimmer world record holder in the 100 m freestyle.[2] 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.[3]

Biography

Curwen was born in December 1889 in Liverpool, England.[3] She began swimming with her local club in Liverpool when she was 13.[3] Between 1903 and 1917, Curwen won the Liverpool and District 100 yards freestyle event fourteen times.[3] Curwen broke the world record for the 100 metres freestyle twice, first in September 1911 and again in June 1912.[3][4] She also set six more world records in events from the 100 to 300 yards.[5]

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, Curwen competed in the women's 100 metre freestyle event.[6] In her heat, Curwen set a new Olympic record.[6] She went on to qualify for the final of the race, but was unable to start, after suffering with appendicitis which required surgery.[6][7] As a result, Curwen also missed an opportunity to swim in the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay race,[3] where Great Britain won the gold medal.[8]

Curwen did not compete in swimming after World War I.[3] She was married to Tom Wright.[1] She died in Wallasey on June 25, 1982 at the age of 92.[1][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Deaths: Wright". Liverpool Echo. 26 June 1982. p. 4.
  2. ^ "Miss Curwen with a new world record". Pay Up Liverpool. 30 May 1912. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Daisy Curwen". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "MERSEYSIDE'S 100 OLYMPIANS 100 No 99: DAISY CURWEN". The Free Library. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "100 metres Freestyle, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Merseyside Olympian number 99: Daisy blossomed but missed out on Olympic medal". Liverpool Echo. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  8. ^ "4 x 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2022.