Mike Turner

Mike Turner was a member of the Stockport Swimming Club in England where he specialised in the freestyle. Turner began as a butterfly swimmer, becoming the national junior champion in the 110 yards before switching to freestyle. In 1964 he did the double by winning national titles in both the 110 and 220 yards. Two years later he represented England at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. At the Games he won three medals, all in relay events, with silver in the 4 × 100 yards medley, and bronze in both the 4 × 100 yards freestyle and the 4 × 200 yards freestyle.

Turner then represented Great Britain at the 1967 Summer Universiade in Tokyo, winning silvers in the 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay and the 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay events. His consistent results earned him a place on the Olympic team for the 1968 Games in Mexico City. Great Britain just missed out on a medal in the 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay when they finished fourth in the final. In the 100 metres freestyle Turner qualified from his heat but was then eliminated in the semi-finals.

During his career Turner held the British record for the 110 yards freestyle, and married fellow freestyle swimmer and Olympian Diana Sutherland in 1978. Away from the pool he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Manchester University before running his own record shop in the city.