Natalie Steward

When Natalie Steward won the 100 metres freestyle bronze medal and 100 backstroke silver at the 1960 Roma Olympics, she became the first British female swimmer to win two individual medals at one Games since Joyce Cooper in 1928. The record would not be equalled until 2008 when Becky Adlington won two medals at Beijing. In addition to her podium finishes, Steward finished fifth in both the Great Britain freestyle and medley relays in Roma.

Steward was born of English parents in Pretoria, South Africa, where her father worked at the time. She later lived in Bulawayo and, as a promising swimmer with dual nationality, was selected for Rhodesia to compete at the 1958 Cardiff British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Sadly the 15-year-old Steward never won a medal.

It was after moving to England in 1959 that Steward joined the Hornchurch Swimming Club, and in two years in Britain she had won six ASA titles (110, 220 and 440 free in 1959, 110, 220 free and 110 back in 1960). In addition, she broke English and British freestyle records at 100, 110 and 220 yards. Steward also broke the European 100 metres backstroke record of 1:10.8 in winning silver at the 1960 Olympics. A few weeks later she established a world record 1:11.0 for the 110 yards back at the ASA Championships at Blackpool.

Steward returned to Bulawayo in August 1961 and announced her retirement from competitive swimming the following January at just 18-years-of-age. She started a new career as a professional swimming coach. The short career of Natalie Steward saw her win 21 Rhodesian, four South African, and six UK titles. She also won two Olympic medals and set over 70 records.