Home Aquatic Aussies Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie Honored with Blue Plaques

Aussies Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie Honored with Blue Plaques

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Legendary Aussies Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie Honored with Blue Plaques

Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, Australia’s first two female swimming stars, have been awarded Blue Plaques by the government of New South Wales. The Blue Plaque honor is designed to recognize people and events that have shaped the Australian state, with the plaques placed in publicly accessible places.

Durack and Wylie represented Australia at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, with the women winning gold and silver medals, respectively, in the 100-meter freestyle. Great Britain’s Jennie Fletcher was the bronze medalist. The Stockholm Games marked the first time in which women competed in Olympic swimming competition.

Durack’s Blue Plaque was unveiled on Thursday outside of her childhood home in Stanmore. Durack was the world-record holder in the 100 freestyle from 1912-1920 and she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1967. After the 1916 Olympics were canceled by World War I, Durack hoped to compete at the 1920 Games in Antwerp, but illness prevented the defense of her 100 freestyle title.

Wylie finished three seconds behind Durack for the silver medal in the 100 free at the 1912 Games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Her Blue Plaque was unveiled outside of Wylie’s Baths, her former training ground. Wylie’s father built the Baths in 1907.

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