Triple-Gold Olympic swimmer who learnt to swim in canal

Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 6:23 pm

Quirky Olympic history facts

The most successful British competitor at the 1908 Olympic Games in London was a Lancashire swimmer who took three golds, a British Olympic feat only equalled by cyclist Chris Hoy 100 years later in Beijing. Henry Taylor first learnt to swim in Hollinwood canal and subsequently trained at Oldham Baths and Chadderton Baths. He died penniless aged 65, having sold off all his medals and trophies. One of Henry Taylor’s last jobs was as a pool attendant at Chadderton Baths. The pool was opened in 1894 and closed in 2007.

Chadderton Baths: an Olympic champion’s training pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The London 2012 Olympics are being covered by Up To Speed’s sports journalism tutor Rick Broadbent, who is The Times Athletics Correspondent. There’s still time to apply for our next NCTJ Fast-Track course, which starts on September 24.

 

 

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