George Burleigh (swimmer)

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George Burleigh
Personal information
Born1914 (1914)
Died1984 (aged 69–70)
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing Canada
British Empire Games
Gold medal – first place 1930 Hamilton 4×200 yd freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1934 London 100 yd freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1934 London 3×110 yd freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1934 London 4×200 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1938 Sydney 4×220 yd freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1930 Hamilton 440 yd freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1930 Hamilton 1500 yd freestyle

George Burleigh (1914–1984) was a Canadian swimmer. He won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 1930 and 1934. and held Canadian freestyle swimming records in the 1930s.

Early life[edit]

In 1925, Burleigh joined the West End YMCA in Toronto.[1] He had been given his membership as a Christmas present from his grandmother.[1] He later described it as "probably one of the best things that ever happened to me".[1]

Career[edit]

From 1930 to 1938, Burleigh held every Canadian record in freestyle swimming ranging from the 50 yd freestyle to the mile freestyle.[1] During this time period, he won a total of 7 medals at the British Empire Games.[2]

1930 British Empire Games[edit]

At the inaugural British Empire Games in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario Burleigh, aged 16, became the youngest swimmer to represent Canada.[3] He won bronze in both the 440 yard freestyle and 1500 yard freestyle events.[4][5] He also won gold, along with teammates Munroe Bourne, Bert Gibson, and Jimmy Thompson, in the 800 yard (4 x 200 yard) freestyle relay.[6] Only two teams entered this event, with England winning silver, only 2 yards and 0.4 seconds behind Canada's time of 8 minutes and 42.4 seconds.[7][8]

1934 British Empire Games[edit]

At the 1934 British Empire Games in London Burleigh won three gold medals, later describing it as "my finest hour".[1] Burleigh won individually in the 100 yard freestyle event, and as anchor in the 330 yard (3 x 110 yards) medley relay (with Ben Gazell and Bill Puddy) and the 800 yard (4 x 200 yards) freestyle relay (with George Larson, Robert Hooper, and Bob Pirie).[1][9][10][11] A new games record was set in all three events.[9][10][11]

1938 British Empire Games[edit]

The 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney was Burleigh's last major competition.[1] The Canadian team travelled from Vancouver, with stops at Honolulu, Fiji, and New Zealand, where the team took part in exhibition meets.[1]

In the 880 yard (4 x 220 yards) freestyle relay Burleigh, along with teammates Gordon Devlin, Robert Hooper, and Bob Pirie, won silver.[12] He also competed in the 110 yard freestyle competition but was not placed.[13] The gold medal was won by fellow Canadian Bob Pirie.[13]

George Burleigh, sitting on a bench wearing his swimming trunks and a striped sweater.
Burleigh in 1931

Retirement[edit]

After ending his swimming career in 1938, Burleigh went to teach at the West End YMCA and retired in Wybridge, Ontario.[1]

Awards and achievements[edit]

Burleigh was inducted in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1976.[14] Posthumously, he was inducted in the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 2000 [15] and awarded the Order of Sport, marking induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i McCarty, Cressy A.M. (June 1978). "A Swimming Flashback - George Burleigh". Swim Canada. Vol. 5, no. 45. Toronto: Nick J Thierry. p. 7. ISBN 9780244940317. ISSN 0319-0560. OCLC 1085606141. Retrieved 6 December 2019 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Commonwealth Games Federation - Search Athletes, Games, Countries, Medals and Games Results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  3. ^ "George Burleigh". Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Swimming 440 Yard Freestyle - Men Hamilton 1930". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Swimming 1500 Yard Freestyle - Men Hamilton 1930". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Swimming 800 Yard Freestyle Relay - Men Hamilton 1930". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  7. ^ Groom, Graham (2017) [2009]. "1930 Hamilton T:2 N:2". The Complete Book of the Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast ed.). Lulu. p. 323. ISBN 9780244940317. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Commonwealth Games Medallists - Swimming and Diving (Men)". GBRATHLETICS.COM. Athletics Weekly. 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Swimming 100 Yard Freestyle - Men London 1934". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Swimming 330 Yard Medley Relay - Men London 1934". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Swimming 800 Yard Freestyle Relay - Men London 1934". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Swimming 880 Yard Freestyle Relay - Men Sydney 1938". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Athletes & Results: Swimming 110 Yard Freestyle - Men Sydney 1938". commonwealth sport (Athletes & Results). Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame". olympic.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Swim - Ontario Hall of Fame". Swim Ontario. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Canada's Sports Hall of Fame". sportshall.ca. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
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