|
Henry
Taylor
The
first time in the history of the Olympic Games that the swimming
events (and diving, which first appeared in the Games of 1900)
were performed in a  swimming
pool was in the Games of 1908 in London. It was a pool 100
metres long and was constructed inside the stadium that had
hosted the fourth Olympic Games. The predominant figures in
the swimming events were the British athletes and the hero,
with three gold medals, was Henry Taylor.
Taylor was born in 1885 and became orphan at an early age.
When he was 7 years old, it was that his swimming career started
with victories in school games. His trainer was his older
brother. His first big success was when he won the (unofficial)
British championship in 1906, a success which he had repeated
in 1907 and 1911. In 1906, he took part in the big international
games that had been organized in Athens, the so-called Interim
Olympic Games, where he came first in the 1500m and second
in the 400m. Two years later, in the Olympic Games of London,
he won two gold medals in the same events and one more gold
medal in the 4x200m team freestyle. He had also participated
in the Olympic Games of Stockholm (1912) and of Antwerp, winning
both times the bronze medal in the 4x200m.
During World War I, which was the cause for the cancellation
of the Olympic Games in 1916, he served in the British Navy
and took part in one of the most crucial naval battles, in
Jutland. His ship sank and he stayed in the sea for several
hours before they came to his rescue. Naturally, his swimming
skills had proved consequential in his survival. However they
did not ensure him a decent living. He died poor, having sold
most of his medals and cups, on 28 February 1951.
|
