Karen Muir
 Karen Muir in 1967 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Karen Muir |
| National team |  South Africa |
| Born | 16 September 1952 Kimberley, Cape Province, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 1 April 2013 (aged 60) Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Backstroke |
Karen Muir (16 September 1952 – 1 April 2013)[1][2] was a South African competitive swimmer. Born and raised in Kimberley, she attended the Diamantveld High School, where she matriculated in 1970.[3]
Biography[edit]
On 10 August 1965, aged twelve years, Muir became the youngest person to break a sporting world record in any discipline when she swam the 110 yards backstroke in 1m 08.7s at the ASA National Junior Championships in Blackpool, England.[4][5][6]
Over the following five years Muir would go on to set fifteen world records in the backstroke at 100 metres, 200 metres, 110 yards, and 220 yards.[7] She also won 22 South African Championships and three US National Championships.[8] Due to the sporting boycott of South Africa during her active career, she was never able to participate in an Olympic Games.[8]
Muir was elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1980. After retiring from her sport, she qualified, through the University of the Orange Free State,[3] as a doctor and practiced in the African continent.[8] Since 2000 she worked as a family physician in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada.[1][9] During 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. On 19 January 2012, it was reported that the cancer had spread.[10]
Muir died of breast cancer at the age of 60 in Mossel Bay, South Africa on 1 April 2013.[1][2]
Kimberley's Olympic-sized swimming pool was named the Karen Muir Swimming Pool in honour of the young swimmer, who was nicknamed locally as the "Tepid Torpedo".[3] When Muir revisited the city in 2009 she donated her Springbok blazer to the Diamantveld High School.[3]
See also[edit]
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- World record progression 100 metres backstroke
- World record progression 200 metres backstroke
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Botha, André (2 April 2013). "Karen Muir sterf". Rapport (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ^ a b Edmonds, Scott (2 April 2013). "Vanderhoof doctor, former South Africa swimming sensation Karen Muir dies of cancer". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Tributes pour in for Karen Muir", Diamond Fields Advertiser, 3 April 2013, p 4
- ^ History[permanent dead link], Swimming South Africa
- ^ "South Africa Swimmer, 12, Wins Third Title in Britain", The New York Times, 14 August 1965
- ^ "Karen Muir: She Just Goes Out and Swims", St. Petersburg Times, 15 August 1965
- ^ "Swimming in South Africa" Archived 8 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, SouthAfrica.net
- ^ a b c Karen Muir (RSA) – 1980 Honor Swimmer Archived 7 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, International Swimming Hall of Fame
- ^ Clarke, Ted. "Doc makes splash at Citizen Iceman". Prince George Citizen. Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ André Botha (17 January 2012). "Karen Muir veg nou om haar lewe" Archived 26 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. volksblad.com (in Afrikaans)
External links[edit]
Media related to Karen Muir at Wikimedia Commons
