John Thurley

The name Thurley is synonymous with the Sutton and Cheam Swimming Club. John Thurley´s brother Charlie Jr. was a Great Britain water polo captain, their father Charlie Sr., a former Army boxing champion, was club president for over 30 years, while their mother Violet, a former county swimmer better known as “Dinkie” or “Mrs T”, was a coach at the club for more than 40 years.

John was coached by Dinkie, who also produced many other championship-winning swimmers, including the 1972 and 1976 Olympian John Mills. As a 10-year-old, Thurley was outswimming boys older than himself and by the time he was 20 had competed at two Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and broken 10 British and English records. Thurley competed in both freestyle and butterfly at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics without picking up a medal, but he did win a bronze medal in the 4×220 yards freestyle relay at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Kingston, Jamaica.

In total, Thurley broke 16 British and English butterfly records between 1965 and 1968, and in 1968 was the first Briton under two minutes for the 200 yards. His most satisfying record, however, was probably in breaking the legendary Ian Black´s five-year old 200/220 yards record at Crystal Palace in 1965.

Despite 12 individual ASA podium finishes between 1964-68, Thurley won just two titles, 110 and 220 butterfly in 1966. His 110 yards win was unprecedented as the first four swimmers were all given the same time with Thurley adjudged the winner by the referee. In addition to further podiums at butterfly, he was also either second or third in the freestyle at distances of 220, 440, 880, and one mile. Thurley retired from competitive swimming after the 1968 Olympics and turned to water polo. He worked as a clerk in his father´s haulage business.