Being the only indoor heated pool on the Island and being the only swimming club here we always aimed high and to this end we arranged for David Wilkie and his coaching team to visit us for a coaching weekend. He is pictured here with Dawn and Shirley, both West Wight Swimming Club Coaches.
Shirley Miles, David Wilkie and Dawn Johnson
Shirley Miles, Nicola Miles, David Wilkie and Helen Pitman
A young Swimmer with David Wilkie
David Wilkie
David Wilkie won bronze in front of his home crowd in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in the 200 metre breaststroke. He wore a swim cap for that event during the commonwealth games, making him the first elite swimmer to wear one in a major competition.
David Wilkie won silver in the 200 m breaststroke at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and in the 1974 Commonwealth Games, in Christchurch, New Zealand, he won silver in the 100 metre breaststroke, a gold in the 200 metre breaststroke and a further gold in the 200 m individual medley.
David Wilkie won gold in the 200 metre breaststroke at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, in a world-record time. He also added the 100 metre silver medal to his collection.
David won 3 NCAA Championships while at Miami. He was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 ! In 1977 he was appointed MBE.
David Wilkie has remained active in the world of swimming, involved in swimming aids and technology. He was said to be the first swimmer to wear a head-cap and goggles together in competition to improve the streamline effect within the water.
