Bill Longworth

William “Bill” Longworth started his sports career representing the Sydney Grammar School in swimming, athletics, and rugby. His first major national success was the Australian Swimming Championship over ¾ mile in 1911 in a world record time of 17:42. Practicing the two-beat Australian crawl in long distance races, he beat prominent swimmers like Frank Beaurepaire and Cecil Healy. At the same event, he also claimed the one-mile title.

In 1912, Longworth won all titles at the New South Wales and Australian championships from 100 yards to one mile. He set national records over 100 yards in 56.8, 100 metres in 1:05, 220 yards in 2:27.4 and 3 miles in 1-18:22.4. At the 1912 Olympics, Longworth qualified for the 100 metres final and the 1,500 metres semi-final. In the 100 heat he was beaten by Duke Kahanamoku and in the 1,500 metres heat by George Hodgson, both men setting world records. However, during these races, Longworth suffered from severe sinusitis. After qualifying for the 100 final he had to undergo surgery to drain the infection from his head and was not able to compete for the remainder of the Olympics. In the following two years, Longworth continued his winning streak at the New South Wales and Australian Championship, except for the 100 yards.

In 1915, Longworth enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, serving in France as a sergeant. He was promoted to officer in June 1917. By then a lieutenant, he was the captain of the AIF-team at the Inter Allied Games in 1919 when he placed second in the 400 and 800 metres freestyle and was a member of the victorious 4x200 metres freestyle relay team. Longworth married in London and returned to Sydney in November 1919. He joined the family business ventures, acting as director and chairman of various companies.

In addition to swimming, he was New South Wales amateur snooker champion in 1920 and 1921 and later became vice-president of the British Billiards Control Council. Longworth was also a successful owner of race horses and was a member of the Australian Jockey Club under the name of “Mr W. Biey”. He served as chairman of the Owners and Trainers’ Association and the Sydney Turf Club. In 1946 he divorced and remarried one year later. With his first wife he had two sons and a daughter, in addition to another daughter with his second wife.