Judy-Joy Davies
Encyclopedia
Judy-Joy Davies was an Australia
n backstroke swimmer of the 1940s and 1950s, who won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
. At national level, she won 17 Australian Championships in freestyle, backstroke and medley swimming
. She was well known after her swimming career as a long time sporting journalist for the Melbourne newspapers The Argus and The Sun-News Pictorial.
The second World War
did not interrupt her competitive swimming career.
At international level, Davies concentrated on the backstroke, winning seven consecutive national titles from 1946 to 1952. She also won the 100yd freestyle in 1947 and the 880yd freestyle the following year. At the 1948 Olympics, Davies set an Olympic record in the heat of the 100m backstroke. However, in the final, she finished behind Denmark
's Karen Harup
and the United States
' Suzanne Zimmerman
.
At the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
, Davies switched to the 400m freestyle, but she disappointed, managing only ninth place.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n backstroke swimmer of the 1940s and 1950s, who won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. At national level, she won 17 Australian Championships in freestyle, backstroke and medley swimming
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
. She was well known after her swimming career as a long time sporting journalist for the Melbourne newspapers The Argus and The Sun-News Pictorial.
The second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
did not interrupt her competitive swimming career.
At international level, Davies concentrated on the backstroke, winning seven consecutive national titles from 1946 to 1952. She also won the 100yd freestyle in 1947 and the 880yd freestyle the following year. At the 1948 Olympics, Davies set an Olympic record in the heat of the 100m backstroke. However, in the final, she finished behind Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
's Karen Harup
Karen Harup
Karen Margrethe Harup Petersen was a Danish swimmer and Olympic champion. She competed at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, where she received a gold medal in the 100 m backstroke and silver medals in the 400 m freestyle and the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay.-World records:Harup set two world...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' Suzanne Zimmerman
Suzanne Zimmerman
Suzanne Winona Zimmerman is a former competitive backstroke swimmer from the United States who won a silver medal in the 100 meter backstroke at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England....
.
At the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Davies switched to the 400m freestyle, but she disappointed, managing only ninth place.
See also
- List of Australian Olympic medalists in swimming
- Women's swimming in AustraliaWomen's swimming in Australia-1800s:While not being urged to avoid competition, women had few opportunities to compete in sport in Australia until the 1880s. After that date, new sporting facilities were being built around the country and many new sport clubs were created...