Daphne Wilkinson

Daphne Rose Wilkinson was an English freestyle swimmer and Olympian.

Biography

Wilkinson was born in Birmingham, England on 21 April 1932. She competed in the Swimming at the [1952 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metre freestyle|400 metre] event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. She broke the world record during the freestyle heats, but came 11th in the semi-finals and failed to reach the final.
She won a bronze medal in the 4×110 yard relay at the 1954 [British Empire and Commonwealth Games] representing England. She won the 1951 ASA British Swimming Championships - [200 metres freestyle winners|National Championship 220 yards freestyle] title and three ASA British Swimming Championships - [400 metres freestyle winners|National Championship 440 yards freestyle] titles in 1950, 1951 and 1952.
After retiring, Wilkinson taught swimming in Kenilworth. She was inducted into Coventry’s Hall of Fame and participated in a parade in honour of former Olympians in Coventry in 2008.
Wilkinson died on 24 December 2023, at the age of 91.