David Wilkie MBE, a Scottish swimmer and British Olympic champion, died Wednesday morning on the age of 70 after battling most cancers.
One among Britain’s most profitable worldwide swimmers, in 1976 Wilkie grew to become the primary British man to win Olympic gold within the pool in 68 years.
Wilkie received gold within the 200 breaststroke on the Montreal Olympic Video games, breaking the world file on the time by over three seconds. He additionally took residence a silver medal within the 100 breaststroke on the similar Olympics.
Wilkie beforehand received silver within the 200 breaststroke on the 1972 Video games in Munich and was the world champion within the occasion in 1973.
Along with his Olympic success, Wilkie broke 5 world data and introduced residence a mess of medals from his performances on the Commonwealth Video games and World Championships over the course of his profession.
Wilkie’s first main medal was a bronze within the 200 breaststroke on the 1970 Commonwealth Video games; he went on to win gold in each the 200 breaststroke and the 200 IM on the 1974 competitors. He was topped world champion within the 200 breaststroke in 1973 and was the world champion in each breaststroke occasions in 1975.
Wilkie first discovered to swim in Sri Lanka, the place he was born in 1954 to Scottish dad and mom, earlier than returning to Scotland in 1965 to attend Daniel Stewart’s Faculty and becoming a member of Warrender Baths Membership for swimming.
In 1969, Wilkie was chosen by the Scottish Beginner Swimming Affiliation to hitch the elite Scottish Coaching Squad.
Wilkie headed to the College of Miami in 1973 to review marine biology and proceed coaching, the place he shortly established himself as one of the best breastroker on the planet.
He retired from aggressive swimming one month after the Montreal Video games on the age of twenty-two, occurring to grow to be a profitable businessman.
Wilkie was awarded an MBE in 1977 and was voted British Sports activities Persona of the Yr in 1975.
His son, Adam Wilkie, stated in a press release: “My dad was a really fantastic man, father, and husband. He achieved a lot in his life and people who knew him will always remember his love for all times, kindness, and fantastic sense of humour.”
Wilkie is survived by his spouse, Helen, and kids, Natasha and Adam.
