Dorothy Harrison

Dorothy Harrison started swimming shortly after going to Middlesbrough Girls’ High School as an 11-year-old, and within three years was the county girls’ breaststroke champion, before making her junior international début in 1965. She was also that year’s English Schools’ junior breaststroke champion, and then won the senior girls title in 1967.

A native of Middlesbrough, Harrison moved from Middlesbrough Ladies to the West Hartlepool Swimming Club (now Hartlepool Swimming Club) in 1967. She went to two Olympics and reached two finals, the 4×100 metres medley relay in 1968 (sixth) and individual 100 metres breaststroke in 1972 (eighth). She broke her own British record of 1:17.00 by 0.47 secs in the 100 semi-finals at München (Munich).

In between her two Olympic appearances, Harrison competed at the 1970 European Championships in Barcelona and won a bronze medal in the 200 metres. She broke both the British 100 and 200 metres records at those Games. That same year, Harrison won three silver medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 medley relay at the Edinburgh British Commonwealth Games.

Having won several Northumberland and Durham titles, Harrison won her first ASA title (220 yards) in 1969. She retained the title in 1970, and in 1971 won both the 100 and 200 metres titles. Harrison won the 100 and 200 metres Australian titles in 1972, both in British record-equalling times. Harrison later became a physical education teacher.