Elaine Tanner
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Elaine Tanner-Watt |
| Nickname(s) |
"Mighty Mouse" |
| Nationality |
 Canada |
| Born |
February 22, 1951 (1951-02-22) (age 61)
Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Height |
1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| Sport |
| Sport |
Swimming |
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| Stroke(s) |
Backstroke |
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Elaine Tanner-Watt, OC (born February 22, 1951 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a retired Canadian swimmer.
[edit] Career
Nicknamed "Mighty Mouse"[1] partly because of her small stature (standing barely five feet tall) and partly due to her competitive drive, Tanner had a large impact on Canadian swimming and is considered one of the top performers in the sport.[2]
During the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, Tanner won four gold medals and three silvers, becoming the first woman to ever win four golds at a Commonwealth Games.[3] She was named Canada’s best athlete in 1966 — the youngest person to ever receive the award — and was also selected this country’s top athlete overall.[4] The following year at the Pan American Games, Tanner won two gold and three silver medals in Winnipeg, breaking two world records in the process.[5] Tanner arrived at the 1968 Summer Olympics as a heavy medal favorite. She earned three times in Mexico City, winning two individual silver medals and one relay bronze.[5] Suffering from depression, Tanner retired from competition after the 1968 Olympics at just 18 years of age.[5]
[edit] Awards and accolades
In 1969, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.[4] The Elaine Tanner Award has been presented to Canada’s top junior female athlete since 1972.[6]
[edit] Personal life
Tanner lives in White Rock, BC with her husband John Watt.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "If dancing in parks were an Olympic event...". The Globe and Mail. 16 September 2009. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/if-dancing-in-parks-were-an-olympic-event-bc-would-be-in-great-shape/article1283289/. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ a b "Promise after a painful past". The Province. 28 May 2008. http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=aaf348cc-9277-4581-9f56-320fdbfa3d7d. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Elaine Tanner profile at famouscanadianwomen.com". http://famouscanadianwomen.com/famous%20firsts/sports%20personalities.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ a b "Canada Sports Hall of Fame Profile". http://www.cshof.ca/hm_profile.php?i=441. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ a b c "B.C.'s all-time sporting greats". The Vancouver Sun. 18 November 2008. http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/features/bc150ed/story.html?id=fdb0151e-14ad-48fd-bfaa-8ade65a0db52. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Elaine Tanner's life has come full circle". Oakville Beaver. 28 March 2009. http://www.oakvillebeaver.com/news/article/245030. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
[edit] External links
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- 1958 – 1966: 110 Yards Butterfly
- 1970 – 2010: 100 Metres Butterfly
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- 1966: 220 Yards Butterfly
- 1970 – 2010: 200 Metres Butterfly
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- 1962 – 1966: 440 Yards Individual Medley
- 1970 – 2010: 400 Metres Individual Medley
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Canada
