Diana Elizabeth Wilkinson (born 17 March 1944 in Stockport, Cheshire) is a retired British freestyle swimmer. She competed in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1958 to 1966, the 1958 and 1962 European Aquatics Championships, and the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics.

Diana Wilkinson
Personal information
Nationality England
Born17 March 1944
Stockport, Cheshire
Medal record
Swimming
Representing  England
British Empire & Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 1958 Cardiff freestyle relay
Silver medal – second place 1962 Perth medley relay
Bronze medal – third place 1962 Perth freestyle relay
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Kingston freestyle relay
Representing  United Kingdom
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1958 Budapest 4×100m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1958 Budapest 4×100m medley
Silver medal – second place 1962 Leipzig 4×100m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1962 Leipzig 100m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1962 Leipzig 4×100m medley

Swimming career

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She won five medals at the 1958 and 1962 European Aquatics Championships.[1] She also participated in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics.[2]

Wilkinson was just 16 years old when she represented Great Britain at the 1960 Summer Olympics in the 100 metre freestyle, in the event she finished in third place in her heat and didn't qualify for the next round. Four years later she competed in two events at the 1964 Summer Olympics, she entered the 100 metre freestyle again and this time she finished fifth in her heat so didn't advance to the next round, she was also a part of the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay team which finished last in there heat and didn't advance to the final.[3]

She competed in four Commonwealth Games winning five medals. She represented England and won a bronze medal in the freestyle relay at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.[4]

Four years later she won a silver medal in the medley relay and a third consecutive bronze in the freestyle relay, at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia. Finally during the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica she won her final and fourth consecutive freestyle relay medal.[5]

She is a four times winner of the British Championship in 100 metres freestyle (1961-1964) and the 200 metres freestyle in 1962.[6][7][8][9]

Personal life

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Her older brother is Christopher Wilkinson.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (WOMEN). gbrathletics.com
  2. ^ Pauline Sillett. sports-reference.com
  3. ^ "Diana Wilkinson". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. ^ "1958 Athletes". Team England.
  5. ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  6. ^ "From a Swimming Correspondent. "Swimmers Give Promise Of Even Greater Things." Times, 4 Sept. 1961, p. 4". Times Digital Archive.
  7. ^ ""Strong British Challenge To Australian Swimmers." Times, 17 Sept. 1962, p. 4". Times Digital Archive.
  8. ^ "From Our Swimming Correspondent. "World's Fastest Can Swim Faster Still." Times, 2 Sept. 1963, p. 3". Times Digital Archive.
  9. ^ "From Our Swimming Correspondent. "Meagre Swimming Team For Tokyo." Times, 24 Aug. 1964, p. 3". Times Digital Archive.