Wally Brickett

Before going on to became a highly successful swimming coach, Wally Brickett was, like three of his brothers, a piano maker. Despite being acknowledged as a fine coach, he was also a fine athlete and swimmer in his own right.

At Stamford Bridge in 1887, Brickett won a one-mile handicap walking race for Highgate Harriers. As a swimmer, he was originally a member, and later captain, of the Unity Swimming Club. He was third in the ASA 500 yards in 1888 and in 1891 was third in the ASA 440 yards saltwater event. After moving to London York SC, Brickett was runner-up in the ASA 500 yards in 1895. Brickett was involved with the formation of the Life Saving Society in 1891 and was a holder of their bronze medal.

As a coach, Brickett was one of the few coaches to teach the new “front crawl” style. The British swimming coach at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics, he coached many great swimmers including Fred Holman and four-times Olympic gold medallist Henry Taylor. Another one of his pupils was Belle White, winner of the high diving bronze medal at Stockholm Games. It was estimated that Brickett taught over 10,000 people to swim over the years. In 1904 he also started to train channel swimmers, including the Scot Jabez Wolffe who made over twenty unsuccessful attempts at the crossing.

In his 40s, Brickett started taking part in multi-event challenges and in 1919, when aged 54, he set a “world record” for walking one mile, running one mile, running one mile over hurdles, cycling three miles, swimming one mile, and rowing one mile. He completed the eight miles on and along the river Thames between Putney Bridge and Hammersmith in 55:34.2

Brickett collapsed and died while reading a newspaper at a friend’s house in Havant in Hampshire at the age of 67 in 1933. Two of his sons maintained the family swimming connection. Sidney and Reg, were founder members of the National Association of Swimming Instructors and Reg became President of the Swimming Teachers Association of Great Britain. Sidney’s son Peter was the Southern Counties 100- and 200 yards record holder in the 1930s. Brickett, who was responsible for coaching over 100 champions, was once described as “Professor Walter Brickett, the famous Olympic swimming trainer and coach – Maker of Champions”