Joan Harrison

Joan Cynthia Harrison (later Breetzke, 29 November 1935 – 20 May 2025) was a South African swimmer who won the 100 metres backstroke event at the 1952 Olympics. Harrison was born in 1935 in East London, South Africa. After setting multiple national records and winning multiple national titles at 13 years old, the year later, she won the 440-yard freestyle event at the 1950 British Empire Games. She then won gold in the 100 metres backstroke event at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, making her the first South African swimmer to win Olympic gold. Harrison then won multiple medals, including two golds, at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. She retired from international competitive swimming in 1956 at 22 years old.

Career Joan Cynthia Harrison was born on 29 November 1935 in East London, Cape Province, South Africa. Her mother was a swimmer and her father played rugby.

At 13 years old, Harrison won the 220-yard and 500-yard freestyle events at the South African national swimming championships. She also held two South African records and three South African junior records in the sport. This win made her the first South African swimmer to win Olympic gold. The next South African woman to win an Olympic medal was Penny Heyns in 1996. She later said: "People made a fuss about it. But my life did not really change. I was still an ordinary girl from East London. When we arrived back in the city there were thousands of people waiting for me at the city hall."

Personal life Harrison attended Clarendon High School for Girls. She married in 1956 to Charles Breetzke, changing her name to Joan Breetzke,

Death and legacy In 1982, Harrison was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.