Born: 1938
Biography:
Lorraine Joyce Thurlow, AM (born 1 October 1938), née Crapp, is a former Olympic swimming champion representing Australia. In world swimming history, Crapp earned a place as the first woman to break the five-minute barrier in the 400 m freestyle.
Born in 1938, Lorraine Crapp grew up with her parents in Jervis Bay where her father served with the Royal Australian Air Force Air Sea Rescue Unit. At the young age of five, Crapp already displayed her swimming talents and became a competent swimmer. When her family moved to Mortlake, she joined the Cabarita Swimming Club and quickly excelled in various swimming disciplines including freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke, winning all her age events by the age of 12.
In 1952, Crapp’s talent caught the attention of selectors and she was chosen to represent New South Wales in the Australian Championships held in Melbourne. At just 13 years old, she managed to claim victory in the junior 200 yards event and secured second place in the senior 880 yards, coming behind Olympian Judy Davis. This early success marked the beginning of Crapp’s rise to swimming stardom.
Crapp’s breakthrough came in 1954 when she participated in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. At the age of 15, she won gold medals in the 110 yard freestyle and 440 yard freestyle, as well as a bronze medal in the 3×110 yard medley relay. Her performance at these games established her as a rising star in the swimming world.
In 1956, Crapp set a remarkable record-breaking streak, breaking 17 world records throughout the year. By the end of that year, she held the world records for the 110 yards, 200 meters, 400 meters, and 880 yards freestyle events. This accomplishment made her the first Australian swimmer, male or female, to simultaneously hold world records in all freestyle distances.
It was on 25 August 1956 that Crapp achieved a historic milestone in her swimming career. At the Australian National Training Camp at Tobruk Pool in Townsville, Queensland, she became the first woman to break the five-minute barrier in the 400 m freestyle. In that same race, she also broke three other world records in the 200 m, 220 yd, and 440 yd events. The headlines around the world were captivated by this extraordinary feat, as Crapp slashed a staggering 18.2 seconds from the previous 400 m record to clock in at 4 minutes and 47.2 seconds. Her achievements firmly cemented her legacy as one of the greatest swimmers of her time.
Crapp represented Australia in two Olympic Games, the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics. At the 1956 Games held in Melbourne, she won two Olympic gold medals and one silver medal. Crapp’s gold medal victory came in the 400 m freestyle event, where she showcased her dominance by finishing 7.9 seconds ahead of her teammate, Dawn Fraser. This result was even more remarkable as it shattered the previous Olympic record by a staggering 17.5 seconds. In addition to her stunning gold medal performance, Crapp also secured a silver medal in the 100 m freestyle, alongside Fraser who claimed the gold.
Crapp’s success continued into the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where she added another silver medal to her Olympic collection in the 4×100 m freestyle relay. Although she did not stand on the top step of the podium at these Games, her enduring excellence propelled her into the annals of swimming history.
Throughout her career, Crapp’s extraordinary achievements inspired countless individuals, not just in Australia but around the world. She demonstrated tremendous dedication and resilience, constantly pushing the boundaries to reach new heights in her sport. Her impact on women’s swimming, in particular, cannot be overstated, as she shattered stereotypes and proved that women could excel in the world of competitive swimming.
Awards:
– Olympic Gold Medal – 1956 Summer Olympics, 400 m freestyle
– Olympic Gold Medal – 1956 Summer Olympics, 4×100 m freestyle relay
– Olympic Silver Medal – 1956 Summer Olympics, 100 m freestyle
– Olympic Silver Medal – 1960 Summer Olympics, 4×100 m freestyle relay