David Wilkie (swimmer)
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| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Swimming | |||
Competitor for  Scotland and  Great Britain |
|||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Gold | 1976 Montreal | 200m Breaststroke | |
| Silver | 1972 Munich | 200m Breaststroke | |
| Silver | 1976 Montreal | 100m Breaststroke | |
| British Commonwealth Games | |||
| Gold | 1974 Christchurch | 200m Breaststroke | |
| Gold | 1974 Christchurch | 200m Medley | |
| Silver | 1974 Christchurch | 100m Breaststroke | |
| Bronze | 1970 Edinburgh | 200m Breaststroke | |
| World Championsips (LC) | |||
| Gold | 1973 Belgrade | 200m Breaststroke | |
| Bronze | 1973 Belgrade | 200m Medley | |
| Gold | 1975 Cali | 100m Breaststroke | |
| Gold | 1975 Cali | 200m Breaststroke | |
David Andrew Wilkie MBE (born March 8, 1954) is a Scottish former swimmer, who was Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion in the 1970s.
He is a member of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.
[edit] Biography
David Wilkie was born in Sri Lanka, the offspring of Scottish parents who were stationed in that country.
He was a pupil of Daniel Stewart's College in Edinburgh, and while a student there he joined the Warrender Baths Club, one of Scotland's most prestigious swimming clubs. It was there that he began to develop his specialist stroke, the breaststroke.
Wilkie first came to the public's attention when he won bronze in front of his home crowd in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in the 200 metre breaststroke.
He wore a swim cap for that event during the commonwealth games, making him to first elite swimmer to wear one in a major competition.
Wilkie's world breakthrough came as a surprise to many when he won silver in the 200 m breaststroke at the Munich Olympics in 1972. He had acquired the reputation of avoiding hard work and not being sufficiently committed. However it was clear from this performance that he had outstanding natural ability.
In the 1974 Commonwealth Games, in Christchurch, New Zealand, he won silver in the 100 metre breaststroke, a gold in the 200 metre breaststroke and a further gold in the 200 m individual medley.
However, it was only after several years of intensive training at the University of Miami, that Wilkie's finest hour came. He won gold in the 200 metre breaststroke at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Not only did he win in a world-record time, he added a 100 metre silver medal to his collection.
Since his retirement, Wilkie has remained active in the world of swimming, involved in swimming aids and technology. He was said to be the first swimmer to wear a head-cap and goggles together in competition to improve the streamline effect within the water.
His swimming coach was Dave Haller.
[edit] Major competition achievements
- 1972 Summer Olympics, Munich: Silver, 200 m breaststroke
- 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal: Gold, 200 m breaststroke; Silver, 100 m breaststroke
- 1970 British Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh: Bronze, 200 m breaststroke
- 1974 British Commonwealth Games, Christchurch (NZ): Gold, 200 m breaststroke; Gold, 200 m Individual Medley; Silver 100 m breaststroke.
[edit] External links
- International Swimming Hall of Fame - David Wilkie
- The Commonwealth Games council for Scotland - David Wilkie
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Gunnar Larsson |
Men's 200 metre individual medley world record holder (long course) August 24, 1974 – August 23, 1975 |
Succeeded by Graham Smith |
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Wilkie, David |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Scottish former swimmer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 8 March 1954 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sri Lanka |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
