Australasia was represented at the 1912 Olympics by two swimmers, Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, who had finished 1st and 2nd in the 100 metres, but had plans to also contest the relay. The pair should combine to form a strong quartet with Winnie Kerr, of Melbourne, who was due to finance her own passage to Sweden, and former world 100 yards record holder Dorothy Hill, by then studying piano in London. Unfortunately, Kerr was unable to sail and, with no other Australian swimmers available, the plan was abandoned. Durack and Wylie offered to compete in the relay, and swim two legs each, but this request was turned down. In their absence, Great Britain won the race easily by nearly six seconds, despite their top swimmer, Daisy Curwen, being missing through appendicitis.
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