Description
Sandra Anne Morgan is a former Australian freestyle swimmer, who won gold in the 4 � 100 m freestyle relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. At the age of 14 years and 6 months, she became the youngest Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, a record that still stands. Morgan began serious training in early 1956 and won Olympic selection for the relay team as well as the 400 m freestyle. Morgan's selection in the final quartet raised controversy because of her inexperience in top-level racing and her history of false starts. During the final, she lifted her head out of the water and saw her American opponent ahead of her, prompting her to regain the lead with a late burst in the third leg. Australia went on to win the relay in world record time. In her only individual event, Morgan came sixth in the 400 m freestyle.
In 1957, she won the 110?220?440 yd treble at the Australian Championships in the absence of her main rivals, but from that point on her career was plagued by illness and weight problems. She was selected in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games purely as a relay swimmer, winning gold in the event.
Other Names
- Sandra Beavis
- Sandra Morgan-Beavis
Born
June 6th, 1942 in Tamworth, New South Wales (Age 82) as Sandra Anne Morgan
Last Changes
2020/01/12
New Address: Available to members only
2020/01/12
New Address: Available to members only
2019/05/24
The Claim to Fame has changed