Karen Muir - The Trailblazer Denied Olympic Honours By South Africa's Apartheid Regime
The South African backstroke pioneer of the pool established 15 World records between 1965, at 12 the youngest global-standard setter in history, and 1969. Her career included no international podiums, as a result of her nation's racist apartheid regime
Karen Muir was born on September 16, 1952, in Kimberley, Cape Province, in what was then the Union of South Africa. She was just 12 when she broke her first World swimming record, almost 17 when she established the last of her 15 global standards on backstroke, and almost 21 (and no longer facing) when the last record of her run was broken.
Her career included no international honours, as a result of her nation's racist apartheid regime.
