Key people These three people played key roles in Fanny Durack’s Olympic quest.

Sarah Frances (Fanny) Durack

Born: 1889 in inner-city Sydney, New South Wales Role: Swimming champion and female Olympic pioneer Wilhelmina (Mina) Wylie Age at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Rose Scott Games: 22 Born: 1891 in Sydney Died: 1956 Role: Female Olympic swimming pioneer Born: 1847 at Glendon near Singleton, Appearance: Quite tall, very strongly Age at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic New South Wales built, dark eyes, long and dark wavy hair, Games: 21 Role: President of New South Wales dark brows, strong jaw Died: 1984 Ladies’ Amateur Swimming Association, 1908–11 Character: Strong-willed, very Appearance: Medium height, lightly competitive, a brilliant athlete and a rebel built, long blonde hair, blue eyes Age at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games: 65 Comments: Fanny Durack was the Character: Easy-going and friendly, with daughter of a hotel keeper and part of a a good sense of humour, but a hard- Died: 1925 large Irish family. A strong woman, she working and determined competitor Appearance: Fair skin, white wavy hair, would not let anyone bully her or tell her Comments: ‘Little Mina’ learned to swim round face, stocky, well-dressed and stylish what to do. She knew that she was a world- as a baby and was the star attraction at her class swimmer and fought against those Character: Intelligent, well-read, strong- father’s swimming shows. She could not who wanted to stop her from proving it at minded, stubborn, a passionate feminist understand the fuss about women training the Olympic Games. and a powerful personality with men or the costumes she wore. Mina Comments: Rose Scott had worked hard Many of Fanny’s actions shocked people. knew she was a good swimmer and was for women’s rights all her life. She was a She tried new swimming strokes, wore brief determined to swim at the Olympic Games. costumes, trained with men and stood up to famous feminist, but tried to stop Fanny swimming officials in order to reach her Durack achieving her Olympic dream. This goals. Fanny Durack became an example to was because Rose Scott believed that other women of what they could achieve. mixed bathing in brief swimming costumes would shame women and bring out ‘the animal in man’. She wanted to protect Fanny Durack (left) and Mina women from this, so she was determined Wylie (right) at Stockholm to stop women from competing at the Olympic Games. 8 9 Women She swam with her best friend, Mina Wylie. In 1900, most Australian women could not swim and water sports were for men only. However, times were changing. At beaches around CmenMnao o i , Ion w ! Australia, women began to question the idea that they should cover up let’s race! Mina's father, Henry dive in their bodies and paddle in the shallows. Wylie, was a swimming champion. Mina was a 1900 brilliant swimmer and often beat Fanny.

Coogee Beach, Sydney

You’ve been swimming since you were a baby. Lokthoseo a t girls ...

Fanny was determined to swim faster, so she trained hard.

1902

On the same day, Annette Kellerman set records Fanny was 13 when she swam her first in the 100-yard and 1-mile swims. big race, the 100-yard breaststroke, but she came last ...

Fanny Durack was only eleven years old, but she was already a keen swimmer.

I’oingwimmingm g s at Coogee Beach.

OK, love – have fun.

10 11 Fanny felt inspired to become a swimming champion, too. 1903 1907

At Coogee, Fanny and Mina were coached by Mina’s father. We’re getting Many people did not agree with the new rule. When Henry Wylie built a new pool faster! called Wylie’s Baths at Coogee, he It’s silly! allowed mixed bathing … Make sure you That’s it! kick hard, girls. Good!

1906 Why can’t we swim with them?

Three years later, Fanny’s hard work paid off. I’m training hard to ... and let Mina and Fanny train with the men. try and get into next I wish they’d let H oORAY! year’s Olympic team. women go too ...

Teinnerh w of the breaststroke is Fanny Durack! Summer Soon the girls were 1910–11 swimming record times. Men were allowed to watch women’s races, but this was about to change. At the Australian Ladies’ Swimming Championships, Mina beat Fanny in three There must be a All official races were overseen Famous feminist Rose Scott decided to introduce a new rule. races to become champion. way to beat Mina ... by the New South Wales Ladies’ Amateur Swimming Association. Ldies ea , w must protect our girls from the men. We need a women-only rule for our races.

But what about their brothers and fathers? 12 13

No men!