Sarah (Fanny) Durack (1889–1956)
The news that world famous swimmer, Miss Fanny Durack had died at her Sydney home yesterday took me back to a twilight evening three years ago when I climbed from the Sydney Olympic pool after swimming 32 laps, and looked anxiously at a long line of official timekeepers.
Then Fanny ran up, stopwatch still in hand, and threw her arms around me.
"You're the first Australian girl to break the world mile record since I did, 38 years ago," she cried as she kissed me.
Miss Durack had a wealth of swimming knowledge. She was Australia's first woman Olympic Games representative, first Olympic winner, and first world record holder.
She passed away following a heart seizure only hours after officiating and encouraging swimmers at a Sydney carnival.
Original publication
Additional Resources
- Trove search
- article supporting her bid to represent Australia at the 1912 Olympic Games, Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 4 March 1912, p 3
- wins the 100m freestyle swimming race at the Olympics, Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 15 July 1912, p 6
- breaks three records at the Sydney Ladies' Swimming Carnival; she currently holds the women's record for every distance recognised by the International Federation, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February 1913, p 5
- article about her extraordinary swimming abilities, Cairns Post (Qld), 10 March 1914, p 4
- profile, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 March 1914, p 8
- establishes another swimming world record, Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 1914, p 12
- is invited to swim at the Panama Exhibition, Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 7 April 1915, p 3
- the American Amateur Athletics Union rules that she can't swim in the US under amateur auspices because she insists that her manager's expenses be covered, 2Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 1919, p 7
- is selected to represent Australia at the 1920 Olympics, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 1920, p 13
- is beaten in a race by fellow Australian, Mina Wylie, Register (Adelaide), 9 February 1920, p 5
- announces her retirement from swimming, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January 1921, p 14
- the Fanny Durack Cup is to be awarded to the best junior team at the Sydney Ladies' Swimming Carnival, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 January 1934, p 18s
- acquires a racehorse, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 August 1939, p 21
- her Olympic Gold medal is placed on display at the National Library of Australia, Argus (Melbourne), 28 November 1956, p 12
- profile, Australian Women's Weekly, 3 November 1982, p 100
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Durack, Sarah (Fanny)
- Gately, Bernard Martin (husband)
- Durack, Thomas (father)
- Durack, John (brother)
- Wylie, Wilhemina (friend)
Citation details
Judy Joy Davies, 'Durack, Sarah (Fanny) (1889–1956)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/durack-sarah-fanny-6063/text25479, accessed 8 October 2024.
Fanny Durack, 1930s?
State Library of New South Wales, 30001
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Gately, Sarah
Birth
27 October,
1889
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Death
20 March,
1956
(aged 66)
Stanmore, Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
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