Contents
Athlete
Joan Harrison
Famoose for
Becoming South Africa’s first Olympic swimming champion.
100-metre backstroke · Commonwealth Games
- Born
- 29 November 1935
- Birthplace
- East London
- Died
- 20 May 2025
More people
Joan Harrison
Joan Harrison was a South African swimmer who won Olympic backstroke gold as a teenager.
Early life
East London
Grew up with a swimmer mother and rugby-playing father.
School
Attended Clarendon High School for Girls.
Career
- 1940s
National success
Won senior national events at thirteen.
- 1950
Empire Games
Won the 440-yard freestyle.
- 1952
Helsinki
Won Olympic gold.
Achievements
100-metre backstroke
Won South Africa’s first Olympic swimming gold.
Commonwealth Games
Added backstroke and relay golds.
Beyond sport
Family
Married Charles Breetzke in 1956 and had four children.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical data and references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: ACME. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.