On this day in history...

1956: Dawn Fraser, an Australian 'newcomer' never seen in international waters, set the first of her four 200m freestyle World records, ending the reign of Ragnild Hveger, of Denmark, after 17 years and 5 months. Fraser's standard marked the first 200m record since WWII and since the introduction of a 1954 rule that meant World swimming records could only be set in pools 50m (Olympic) in length.

1979: Another legendary Aussie pace-setter, Tracey Wickham, clocked 16:06.63 over 1500m freestyle in Perth. That would mark what remains the last time an Australian held the global 1500m mark for women, after a duel with Americans that started in 1960, when Ilsa Konrads claimed the mark, continued when Shane Gould brought an end to an 11-year bull run of four Americans (by axing almost 20 seconds off the 17:19 marks that had been held by Debbie Meyer and Cathy Calhoun), and continued with Jenny Turrall, who set five global standards in 1973-1974 before Browne took over in 1977 at AAU Nationals.

Dawn Fraser - The Balmain Bullet Who Changed The Olympic Game In Women’s Sprinting

There are some swimmers in history whose achievements and the tale that goes with them are unparalleled. Dawn Fraser is queen among them.

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Wickham The Game-Changing Wizard Of Aussie Distance Divas

Tracey Wickham is one of the greatest distance freestyle swimmers in history. On the day she set the first of her five generation-busting World records back in 1978, we pay tribute to her career and revisit some of the headlines of a challenging life in which tenacity has been her towering strength

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord