Dawn Fraser


 
 

Dawn Fraser, AO, MBE, (born September 4 1937) is an Australian champion swimmer.

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Known for her politically incorrect behaviour or larrikin character as much as her athletic ability, Fraser won eight Olympic medals, including four golds, and six Commonwealth Games gold medals. In October 1962 she became the first woman to swim the 100 metres in less than a minute. After she retired it was eight years before her record was broken.

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In 1965 Fraser retired from swimming, after the Australian Swimming Union placed her under a 10 year ban. Things had come to a head when, at the Tokyo Olympics, she marched in the opening ceremony against their wishes, wore an old swimsuit (which angered sponsors) because it was more comfortable, and, it was alleged, she climbed a flagpole in Emperor Hirohito’s palace, taking the Olympic flag (later proved false). The ban was lifted four years later.

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Fraser then became a publican, swimming coach and in 1988 became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the New South Wales seat of Balmain.

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She was named Australian of the Year in 1964, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1967 and on June 8 1998, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

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She is one of the contestants in the current season of the Seven Network's Dancing With The Stars.

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AO: AO may stand for:...

MBE: MBE can stand for:...

September 4: September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). There are 118 days remaining....


Dawn Fraser related Images and Photos (experimental)

Dawn
Dawn
Lighthouse: Dawn
Lighthouse: Dawn
Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells
Dawn Maker
Dawn Maker
Dawn Chase
Dawn Chase
Dawn Flight
Dawn Flight
Dawn Addams
Dawn Addams
Dawn Addams
Dawn Addams
Dawn Patrol
Dawn Patrol
Dawn Patrol, The (1938) (DVD)
Dawn Patrol, The (1938) (DVD)
Dawn Raiders
Dawn Raiders
At Dawn
At Dawn

~ Table of Content ~

Introduction
Swimming achievements
 
FR: Dawn Fraser


 

~ Related Subjects ~

September 4 (2) - Balmain (1) - 1964 (1) - Australian of the Year (1) - Emperor Hirohito (1) - 1988 (1) - New South Wales (1) - Order of the British Empire (1) - Seven Network (1) - Dancing With The Stars (1) - Leap year (1) - June 8 (1) - 1998 (1) - Order of Australia (1) - Australia (1) -
 

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