On this day...

In 1915 - Australian Fanny Durack lowered her own World record in the 100m freestyle for victory at the NSW Ladies' Amateur Championships in Sydney:

Durack had set the standard twice before, her first standard established for Olympic gold at Stockholm 1912, when she became the first female champion at the Games as women made their debut at the 'modern' version of an ancient concept 16 years after the men had taken the plunge at Athens 1896. Durack's first two records:
1:19.8 Durack AUS 9 July 1912 - Olympic Games, Stockholm, Sweden
1:18.8 Durack AUS 21 Jul 1912 - German Championships, Hamburg, Germany

Her 1:16.2 from this day 111 years ago would survive ass the global high bar until August 1920, when Ethelda Bleibtrey (USA) clocked 1:14.4 in the semi-finals on her way to gold at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Fanny Durack and the women who pioneered Olympic swimming in 1912

From the SOS Archive; Legends and the SOS Hall of Fame

What A Week That Was For Pioneers Durack, Wylie & Great Britain’s 4x100 Free Quartet

“We swam only after working hours and they were 12 hours and six days a week. We were told bathing suits were shocking and indecent, and even when entering competition, we were covered with a floor-length cloak until we entered the water.” - Jennie Fletcher, Olympic champion 100 years ago

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord