Diana Wilkinson

Britain was well blessed with top class female swimmers in the late-1950s and 60s but without question, the pick of the bunch was freestyle swimmer Diana Wilkinson, also known as ¨Di¨. When she first appeared in the mid-1950s, at just 11-years-of-age, Wilkinson made an immediate impact and in 1956, aged 12, was first reserve for the Great Britain Melbourne Olympic squad. Wilkinson went on to become one the world´s best swimmers over 100 metres.

Between 1957-64 Wilkinson finished in the first three in the ASA 100 yards every year, and was champion five times, in 1957 and 1961-64, and won the 220 yards title in 1962. Wilkinson also equalled, or bettered, the British women´s 100 yards record nine times between 1957-62, and at Wallasey in September 1957 took it under one minute (59.3) for the first time. She also broke the British 110, 220, and 440 yards freestyle records. In addition, Wilkinson was involved in three European records. She broke the individual 100 metres free and 4 x 100 free records in 1962, and the 4 x 110 yards medley relay at Cardiff in 1958, which was also in a world record time of 4:54.0

Wilkinson made her Olympic début at Roma in 1960 but failed to win a medal. At the time of the 1964 Olympics, however, she was ranked number two in the world in the 100 metres and was favourite for a medal. Unfortunately, just before leaving for Tokyo she was diagnosed as anaemic and under medical advice was given an injection of iron that left her in pain and virtually useless. She was still having treatment after arriving in Tokyo, but during her opening heat her arm lost its strength and she finished fifth.

Despite not medalling at the Olympics, Wilkinson enjoyed a large haul of medals on the international stage. At the British Empire and Commonwealth Games she won bronze in the 4 x 110 yards relay in 1958 and 1962, and 4 x 110 medley relay in 1962 and 1966. In addition to her four Commonwealth Games medals, Wilkinson won the 4 x 100 freestyle relay silver at both the 1958 and 1962 European Championships. She also won the bronze in the medley relay at both Championships, and in 1962 added the individual 100 metres silver. Towards the end of her career Wilkinson won silver in both the 100 free and 4 x 100 free relay at the 1965 World Student Games (now the World University Games) in Budapest.

After more than 10 years as a competitive swimmer, Wilkinson retired at the age of 23 in September 1967, shortly after competing at the World Student Games in Tokyo. Wilkinson later became a physical training teacher in Liverpool and then a lecturer in Eastbourne, before going into sports development based in her native Stockport. In 1996 she was appointed the ASA Director of Development.

Wilkinson´s father was president of the English Men´s Lacrosse Association and she too played the sport for Liverpool, and won representative honours with Lancashire and The North. Wilkinson´s older brother Chris was also an international breaststroke swimmer and the siblings both competed at the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games.