Henry Taylor (swimmer)

Henry Taylor was an English competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in four Summer Olympics between 1906 and 1920. Taylor served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, and continued to swim competitively until 1926. His fortunes declined after he retired and he died penniless. His record of three gold medals at one Olympic Games the most by any Briton stood for 100 years until it was equaled by cyclist Chris Hoy in 2008. Tying the medal count of American Mel Sheppard, he was the most successful athlete at the 1908 Olympics.

Henry Taylor was born in Hollinwood in Oldham, Lancashire, onMarch 1885 to James, a coal miner, and Elizabeth Taylor. Henrys parents died when he was young and he was raised by his older brother, Bill. Taylor learned to swim in the Hollinwood Canal, and practised in any water body he could find baths, becks, canals, lakes, etc., including the Hollinwood Canal and Alexandra Parks boating lake. Austin Rawlinson, who was Taylors friend and later president of Amateur Swimming Association, recalled that Taylor loved his swimming more than anything else in life. At the age of seven Taylor swam in his first race.

Source: Wikipedia