Irene Catherine Pirie-Milton (June 7, 1914 – December 1998),[1] née Irene Catherine Pirie, was a Canadian champion swimmer who competed internationally in freestyle events.

Irene Pirie
Pirie and Milton in 1935
Personal information
Full nameIrene Catherine Pirie-Milton
National team Canada
Born(1914-06-07)June 7, 1914
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedDecember 1998, aged 84
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing Canada
British Empire Games
Gold medal – first place 1934 London 4×100 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1930 Hamilton 4×100 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1934 London 100 yd freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1934 London 440 yd freestyle

At the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, she was a member of the Canadian team which won the silver medal in the 4×100-yard freestyle relay event. At the 1934 British Empire Games in London, she won a gold medal with the Canadian team in the 4×100-yard relay competition. She also won a silver medal in the 100-yard freestyle and a bronze medal in the 440 yard freestyle.[2]

At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she was a member of the Canadian team which finished fourth in the women's 4×100-metre freestyle relay. She also participated in the 100-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle, but in both she was eliminated in the first round. Four years later at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, she was on the Canadian team that finished fourth in the 4×100 metre freestyle relay. Individually, she competed in the first round of the 100-metre freestyle event, but did not advance.[2]

Pirie was a sister of Canadian swimmer Bob Pirie, the wife of British swimmer and water polo player Frederick Milton, and the mother of British swimmer Hamilton Milton. She was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1975. In Ontario, the Irene Pirie Trophy is awarded by Swim Ontario to the female swimmer of the year selected by the Ontario Swimming Coaches Association; the male swimmer of the year is awarded the Bob Pirie Trophy.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Olympedia - Irene Pirie-Milton". olympedia.org. OlyMADMen. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Irene Pirie-Milton (full name: Irene Catherine Pirie-Milton)". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011.
  3. ^ Bob and Irene Pirie Trophy. swimontario.com