Vera Neave

British swimmer

Vera Neave (born 1893) was a British swimmer in the early 20th century. She was multiple times world record holders.

Vera Neave
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born1893 (1893)
Sport
Sportswimming
ClubJersey Swimming Club
Enfield Ladies Club
Coached byDavid Billington
her father

Swimming change

Affiliations change

Neave was a member of the Jersey Swimming Club trained by David Billington. Later she was a memver of the Enfield Ladies Club in London, where she was trained by her father.[1]

Achievements change

On 5 August 1911 she won the first women's edition of the open water race in London. Of the 18 participants, 12 finished the course. Neave swam the 15 miles in a time of 4 hours 9:39.6 minutes.[1]

On 18 August 1912 she broke the 1 mile world record. with a time of 31: 41.8. The next year she broke the 2 miles world record with a time of 1 hour 1:15.4 minutes in a swimming pool in Liverpool. In 1915 she finished at the Traversée de Paris à la nage [fr] fifth of the twenty participants. In 1918 she holds two more world records. She is the 440 yards record holder with a time of 6:57.8 and the 550 yards world record holder with a time of 7:52. In August 1921 she beated again the 1 mile world record, now with a time of 21:41.8.[1]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Velez, Anne (2010). "LES FILLES DE L'EAU. UNE HISTOIRE DES FEMMES ET DE LA NATATION EN FRANCE(1905-1939)" (PDF). Université d’Angers (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2022 – via tel.archives-ouvertes.fr.