The son of a well-known Sheffield craftsman bootmaker, Edward Maw took up competitive swimming from the age of 15, and in 1919, when he was 17, won the Sheffield 100 yards freestyle title. Maw later became an established breaststroke swimmer and competed in the 200 metres at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Just two weeks later, he was chosen to represent the British Empire in a match against the United States at Harrow. After retiring from the sport, Maw and his wife Maggie, both former Yorkshire champions, became swimming instructors.