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Willie Francis (swimmer)

Willie Francis
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Scottish)
Born(1911-02-23)23 February 1911
Dunfermline, Scotland
DiedApril 1997 (aged 86)
Kidderminster, England
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubRenfrew District ASC
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Scotland
British Empire Games
Gold medal – first place 1934 London 100 yd backstroke
Silver medal – second place 1930 Hamilton 100 yd backstroke
Silver medal – second place 1934 London 3×110 yd medley

William Francis (23 February 1911 – April 1997) was a Scottish competitive swimmer and backstroke specialist who represented Great Britain in the Olympics and competed for Scotland in the British Empire Games.[1]

Biography

Francis was born in Dunfermline.[2]

At the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the men's 100-metre backstroke event. Four years later at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he was eliminated in the first round of the men's 100-metre backstroke.[2]

At the 1930 British Empire Games he won the silver medal in the 100-yard backstroke contest. Four years later at the Empire Games in Sydney he won the gold medal in the 100-yard backstroke. He was also a member of the Scottish team which won the silver medal in the 3×110-yard medley relay.[3] At the time of the Games he was living at 20 Glebe Crescent in Renfrew and was a reporter by profession.[4]

He also participated in the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney, Australia, but was unplaced in the 110-yard backstroke contest.[5][6]

At the time of the Games he was a newspaper reporter and lived at 32 Glebe Street, Renfrew.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Profile". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Biographical information". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Commonwealth Games Medallists - Swimming and Diving (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Montreal and Quebec to Greenock Passenger List, 6 Sep 1930 on the Cunard Antonia". Ancestry. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  5. ^ "William 'Willie' Francis | Scottish Swimming". www.scottishswimming.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  6. ^ "For the Glory of the Sport" (PDF).
  7. ^ "UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, Brisbane to London Arrival - 1 Apr 1938". Ancestry. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
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