Willie Francis (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" Francis (23 February 1911 – April 1997) was a Scottish
backstroke
swimmer
who competed for Great Britain
in the 1928 Summer Olympics
and in the 1932 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in Dunfermline
.
In 1928 he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 100 metre backstroke event
.
Four years later in Los Angeles he was eliminated in the first round of the Olympic 100 metre backstroke competition
.
At the 1930 Empire Games he won the silver medal in the 100 yards backstroke contest. Four years later at the Empire Games in Sydney he won the gold medal in the 100 yards backstroke event. He was also part of the Scottish team which won the silver medal in the 3×110 yards medley competition. He also participated in the 1938 Empire Games but was unplaced in the 110 yards backstroke contest.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
who competed for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
.
He was born in Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
.
In 1928 he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 100 metre backstroke event
Swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke
The men's 100 metre backstroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fifth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
.
Four years later in Los Angeles he was eliminated in the first round of the Olympic 100 metre backstroke competition
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke
The men's 100 metre backstroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
.
At the 1930 Empire Games he won the silver medal in the 100 yards backstroke contest. Four years later at the Empire Games in Sydney he won the gold medal in the 100 yards backstroke event. He was also part of the Scottish team which won the silver medal in the 3×110 yards medley competition. He also participated in the 1938 Empire Games but was unplaced in the 110 yards backstroke contest.