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Australian 1964 Olympic swimming team tracksuit

Maker Speedo International Ltd

Date1964

Object numberV00044292

NameTracksuit

MediumWool

DimensionsOverall: 730 x 400 mm, 500 g

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis two piece Australian Olympic team tracksuit was worn by swimmer Linda Mc Gill at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. McGill was one of four women, including Dawn Fraser, suspended from competitive swimming by the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia in 1965 for defying a ban on attending the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Manufactured by Speedo, the green wool tracksuit bears the official Australian 1964 Tokyo Olympics team patch on the breast pocket and right hip. The top features a short zippered collar and a high neck and the pants include ankle zippers. HistoryLinda McGill is one of Australia's most famous long distance swimmers. Born in 1945, she won a gold medal at the 1962 Perth Empire and Commonwealth Games, swimming the 4 x 110yard Medley relay. Selected to represent the Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, McGill was suspended from competitive swimming by the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia for defying a ban on attending the opening ceremony. In 1965 Linda McGill became the first Australian to swim the English Channel. In 1967, she set a women's record for the channel swim of 9 hours 59 minutes and 57 seconds, a time that came very close to beating the standing men's record of 9 hours and 35 minutes. McGill was also was the first person to swim across Port Phillip Bay, Victoria; from Townsville to Magnetic Island, Queensland; and around the island of Hong Kong.SignificanceThis Australian team tracksuit worn by Linda McGill at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games was used as a transitional garment before and after swimming races. McGill along with fellow swimmers Dawn Fraser, Nan Duncan and Marlene Dayman defied an order by the Australian swim team manager, Bill Slade, not to march in the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Suspended from competitive swimming for four years by the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, McGill went on to become one of Australia's foremost long distance swimmers.