Rome 1960, Games of the XVII Olympiad. Australian swimmer Dawn FRASER, won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle as the silver medals in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum CollectionsBorn: 4 September 1937
Birthplace: Sydney (Australia)
Nationality:Australia
Sport: Aquatics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Melbourne / Stockholm 1956
Rome 1960
Tokyo 1964
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 4
Silver: 4
Other results:
Commonwealth Games
Gold: 6 (58,62)
Silver: 2 (58)
Unbeatable at 100 Metres
On 21 February 1956, 18-year-old Dawn Fraser broke Willy den Ouden's 20-year-old world record for the 100m freestyle. On 1 December of the same year, Fraser led an Australian medal sweep of the event at the Melbourne Olympics, setting another world record in the process. She gained a second gold medal in leading the Australian team to a world record in the 4x100m freestyle relay and earned a silver medal in the 400m freestyle.
Four years later, at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Fraser repeated her victory at 100m to become the first woman to defend an Olympic swimming title. She also placed fifth in the 400m and picked up silver medals in the medley relay (the first time it was included in the Olympic programme) and in the freestyle relay. On 27 October 1962, Fraser, swimming in Melbourne, became the first woman to break the one-minute barrier for 100m when she covered the longer distance of 110 yards in 59.9 seconds.
At the 1964 Tokyo Games, Fraser fought off a stiff challenge from Sharon Stouder of the United States to win the 100m again, becoming the first Olympic swimmer of either sex to win the same event three times. She also gained a silver medal in the freestyle relay and placed fourth in the 400m. While in Tokyo, Fraser was arrested for stealing a flag from the entrance to the Emperor's Palace, but after she apologized, the charges were dropped and the emperor gave her the flag as a gift. In 1988, Fraser was elected to the parliament of New South Wales and served until 1991.
