Joan Harrison (swimmer)

Joan Cynthia Harrison (later Breetzke, born 29 November 1935) is a retired South African swimmer who won the 100 m backstroke event at the 1952 Olympics.[1]

Joan Harrison

Harrison in 1950
Personal information
Full name	Joan Cynthia Harrison
Nationality	South Africa
Born	(1935-11-29) 29 November 1935 East London, Cape Province, Union of South Africa (now in Eastern Cape)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, backstroke
Club	Springbok swimming team
Medal record Representing  South Africa Olympic Games 1952 Helsinki 100 m backstroke British Empire Games 1950 Auckland 440 yd freestyle 1954 Vancouver 110 yd backstroke 1954 Vancouver 4×110 yd freestyle relay 1954 Vancouver 3×110 yd medley relay 1950 Auckland 110 yd freestyle 1954 Vancouver 110 yd freestyle

Harrison's mother was a swimmer and her father played rugby. Joan went to Clarendon High School for Girls in East London. At age 13, she held three junior and two senior national records, and two national senior swimming titles. In 1950, aged 14, she won the 440 yd freestyle at the British Empire Games, beating the previous games record by 13 seconds and finishing 7 seconds ahead of other competitors, and was declared the outstanding woman swimmer of the games. She won two more gold medals at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In 1982 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.[2]