{"id":399766,"date":"2025-12-01T00:03:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T07:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=399766"},"modified":"2025-12-01T10:40:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T17:40:57","slug":"on-this-date-dawn-fraser-captures-first-olympic-gold-of-title-three-peat-in-100-freestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-this-date-dawn-fraser-captures-first-olympic-gold-of-title-three-peat-in-100-freestyle\/","title":{"rendered":"On This Date: Dawn Fraser Captures First Olympic Gold of Title Three-Peat in 100 Freestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"

On This Date: Dawn Fraser Captures First Olympic Gold of Title Three-Peat<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Dec. 1, 1956, Dawn Fraser captured the first of three consecutive Olympic titles in the 100-meter freestyle.<\/em><\/p>\n

Find an expert on the sport and ask that individual to identify the greatest male and female swimmers in history. The answer for the guys is usually instantaneous: Michael Phelps. Truthfully, any other answer reveals foolishness. Obtaining a majority among the women is much more difficult. Tracy Caulkins<\/strong> and Janet Evans<\/strong><\/a> are in the conversation. Arguments are made for Krisztina Egerszegi<\/strong><\/a>. Katie Ledecky<\/strong> is an obvious choice.<\/p>\n

\"Dawn

Photo Courtesy: Dawn Fraser Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n

The other contender for female GOAT status (Greatest of All Time) requires a trip back in time of more than a half-century. It also requires a trip Down Under. Back then, and there, is where Dawn Fraser<\/strong> is found. Hailing from a nation with a rich aquatic history, Fraser spent the middle part of the 1900s establishing herself as a freestyle legend.<\/p>\n

There haven\u2019t been many stretches over the past century-plus in which Australia has been a non-player on the international scene. But when Fraser came along in the early 1950s, there was a lull in the Aussie ranks. It was Fraser who lifted her nation back to prominence, first capturing back-to-back gold medals at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics<\/a>. She then used the Games of 1964 as a stage for history, for it was that Olympiad in which Fraser became the first swimmer to win three consecutive titles in the same event, doing so in the 100 meter freestyle.<\/p>\n

Just how challenging is an Olympic trifecta? Consider this fact: The club of three-peaters only features a quartet of members: Fraser, Egerszegi, Phelps and Ledecky.<\/p>\n

Setting the Stage<\/h2>\n

Before celebrating Fraser\u2019s historical achievement from Tokyo, there must first be a look at how she came to pursue the triple. It can be easily argued that her rise to stardom hinged on her crossing paths in 1950 with Harry Gallagher<\/strong>, the man who would coach Fraser to excellence. While talent is obviously the key ingredient for any global success, it must be nurtured and molded, and Gallagher had the perfect approach for working with Fraser.<\/p>\n

\"SwimmingFraser wasn\u2019t the easiest of pupils with whom to work. She could be hard-headed and rebellious. She was brash. She could be defiant. Yet, Gallagher knew how to work with these traits, and devised a blueprint that took Fraser\u2019s unquestioned skill set to the greatest heights.<\/p>\n

\u201cDawn was a horror,\u201d Gallagher once said. \u201cShe told me I was a deadbeat, to drop dead, to piss off, to get lost. She wasn\u2019t going to do what I wanted her to do. No guy would ever get her to do what she didn\u2019t want to do. She had wild aggression. She reminded me of a wild mare in the hills that you had put the lightest lead on to keep her under control. She wanted to do her own thing. If you had to guide her, it had to be very subtly, so she didn\u2019t understand that she was being manipulated. I used to say that, you know, \u2018Dawn, no girl has ever done this before, and I don\u2019t think you can do it either, but you just might be able to do it.\u2019 She\u2019d say, \u2018What do you bloody mean? Of course I can bloody well do it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Gallagher\u2019s psychological genius and Fraser\u2019s talent proved to be a perfect combination. While Gallagher recognized how to work with his star athlete, Fraser understood the importance of Gallagher as a mentor, and a give-and-take relationship was established. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, the partnership yielded the tandem\u2019s finest moment to date. Behind a world-record performance, Fraser defeated compatriot Lorraine Crapp<\/strong> for gold in the 100 freestyle, simultaneously sparking her legendary status.<\/p>\n

Following her Olympic breakthrough, Fraser etched herself as the globe\u2019s premier female swimmer. She set multiple world records in the 100 and 200 free, and entered the 1960 Olympics in Rome as the heavy favorite to repeat in the 100, considered the sport\u2019s blue-ribbon event. Indeed, Fraser prevailed in dominant fashion, as the Aussie bettered American Chris von Saltza<\/strong> by more than a second, an eternity in a two-lap event.<\/p>\n

History for the Legend<\/h2>\n

Had Fraser opted for retirement following the 1960 Games, she would have walked away as an icon. It was rare during that era for swimmers to hang around for multiple Olympiads, let alone three. But Fraser has always been known for bucking the system and prolonging her career, and time on top only added to her legacy.<\/p>\n

\"Dawn

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swim Australia\/Ascta)<\/p><\/div>\n

As the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo beckoned, Fraser continued to flourish. Additional world records fell, and in 1962, she became the first woman to crack the one-minute barrier in the 100 freestyle. For all she had previously achieved, Fraser was getting better and was seemingly headed to her third Olympiad as an undeniable force. Of course, not all plans unfold smoothly.<\/p>\n

Seven months before the Tokyo Games, Fraser endured a physically and emotionally crippling life event. Leaving a fund-raiser, Fraser was the driver of a car that also carried her mother, sister and a friend. During the ride home in the early-morning hours of March 9, 1964, Fraser was forced to veer out of the way when her car suddenly came upon a truck. When Fraser swerved, her car flipped over, leading to disastrous results. While Fraser, her sister and friend were injured, Fraser\u2019s mother was killed, pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Fraser\u2019s brother initially informed her that their mother died of a heart attack prior to the crash, but as Fraser prepared to write her autobiography, she learned that her mother\u2019s death was actually the result of injuries suffered in the car accident.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was led to believe by my family for many, many years, that my mother had died prior to the accident,\u201d Fraser wrote in her autobiography. \u201cI did not feel good inside, but I know I\u2019ve wiped away that question mark in my mind. Over the years, I\u2019ve realized you can beat yourself up at night, lose sleep…but you can\u2019t change the past. My parents taught me to accept things the way they were, the rights and the wrongs…and to learn from my mistakes.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With the car accident so close to the Olympics in Tokyo, questions rightfully arose concerning Fraser\u2019s ability to three-peat. Really, Fraser would have been excused had she bypassed a third Olympics. Not only was she carrying the enormous weight of her mother\u2019s death, but the crash also left Fraser with a chipped vertebra that forced her to wear a neck brace for nine weeks. More, doctors advised her not to dive off starting blocks due to the risk of furthering her neck injury. It wasn\u2019t until the Olympics in which Fraser dove off the blocks with full force.<\/p>\n

As Fraser prepared to chase a third straight gold medal in the 100 free, she wasn\u2019t simply battling her own physical and mental demons. American Sharon Stouder<\/strong> had emerged as a prime challenger, and Fraser would have to produce one of the best efforts of her career to retain her crown. Ultimately, that is what the Aussie managed, as she came through in the final to clock an Olympic record of 59.5, ahead of the 59.9 produced by Stouder.<\/p>\n

In less than a minute of race time\u2014but with years of work and dedication providing fuel\u2014Fraser had become the first swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Olympiads. It was truly a remarkable feat, a triumph well ahead of its time. Years down the line, Egerszegi joined Fraser in the special club, winning the 200 backstroke at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Games. Eventually, Phelps was given his key, too, and went a step further by winning the 200 individual medley at four consecutive Games (2004-16). Last summer, Ledecky won her fourth straight title in the 800 freestyle. But Fraser will forever be the president emeritus of the Three-Peat Club.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that America\u2019s first sprint star, Duke Kahanamoku<\/strong>, could have beaten Fraser to the treble. Kahanamoku was the Olympic champion in the 100 free in 1912 and 1920, but had his 1916 Olympic opportunity stolen by the cancellation of the Games due to World War I.<\/p>\n

\u201cI put myself under a lot of pressure by deciding to go to Tokyo, and I also put myself under a lot of pressure to compete in the same event in three Olympics,\u201d Fraser said. \u201cI had, at the back of my mind, that this was for my mother because we were saving up for my mother to go to Tokyo with me. I just imagined that she was there and that I was doing it for her.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

An Extra Souvenir<\/h2>\n

If Fraser\u2019s excellence in the pool cemented her identity as an all-time great, her third gold medal in the 100 free apparently wasn\u2019t enough of a souvenir from her visit to Tokyo. After completing her work in the pool, the rebellious Fraser set out on a night excursion with Howard Toyne<\/strong>, an Australian Olympic team doctor, and Des Piper<\/strong>, a member of Australia\u2019s field hockey team. The trio planned on obtaining some Olympic flags that lined the street leading to the Imperial Palace, the main residence of the Emperor of Japan.<\/p>\n

\"Dawn

Dawn Fraser’s three-peat in the 100 freestyle remains an iconic achievement in the sport.<\/p><\/div>\n

After getting two flags in their possession, police were alerted, and Fraser and her countrymen were arrested, taken to the police station and threatened with jail time. However, Fraser\u2019s prominence was soon revealed, and all three Aussies were released, the lieutenant of the police station actually allowing Fraser to keep one of the stolen flags.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter showing them my gold medal and my dog tags, (the police) were still very disgusted that I\u2019d…that it was me…that I would do that,\u201d Fraser said. \u201cThey explained to me that it was a stealing offense, and it could mean a jail term. But they decided then because of who I was, Dawn Fraser, they let us off.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Tokyo police may have been lenient with Fraser, but Australian Swimming was tired of its Glory Girl and her antics. The organization saw the flag incident as a third strike against Fraser. Prior to the flag shenanigans, Fraser\u2014against team orders\u2014walked in the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo, rather than rest. She also donned a suit for competition that she felt was more comfortable, but was not the team-sponsored suit. The accumulated offenses led Australian Swimming to institute a 10-year ban against Fraser, a decision that led to her retirement.<\/p>\n

Although the ban was lifted prior to the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Fraser didn\u2019t feel like she had the appropriate amount of time to come out of retirement and prepare for a pursuit of a fourth consecutive title in the 100 free. It was the end.<\/p>\n

Ahead of Her Time<\/h2>\n

Considering Fraser achieved the feat at a time when careers were primarily one-Olympics-and-done only emphasizes that she was ahead of her time and set a spectacularly high bar to chase. Although it will never be known, one also must wonder if Fraser\u2014a multi-time world record holder in the event\u2014could have also managed the accomplishment in the 200 freestyle, which did not become an Olympic event for women until 1968.<\/p>\n

Memorable moments are sure to develop at future Games, and as these new memories are celebrated, what Dawn Fraser achieved in Tokyo years earlier is sure to be celebrated, too. History never disappears. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the past and the greatness that came before and should never be forgotten. For Fraser, she will always be the first swimmer to win Olympic gold in the same event at three consecutive Games, each victory defined in its own way, but the last defining history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can remember precisely what I said,\u201d Fraser stated about the completion of her triple. \u201cI said to myself, \u2018Thank God that\u2019s over!\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On This Date: Dawn Fraser Captures First Olympic Gold of Title Three-Peat On Dec. 1, 1956, Dawn Fraser captured the first of three consecutive Olympic titles in the 100-meter freestyle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7533,"featured_media":399506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,122075,10],"tags":[113983,105,127,37801,113981,113982,113980,73668,113979,113978,113976,113977,58477],"class_list":["post-399766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-oceania","category-world","tag-100m-freestyle","tag-australia","tag-dawn-fraser","tag-emperor","tag-flag","tag-moat","tag-national-treasure","tag-olympic-champion","tag-our-dawn","tag-takeoff-to-tokyo","tag-three-peat","tag-tokyo-1964","tag-tokyo-2020"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nOn This Date: Dawn Fraser Captures First Olympic Gold<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Australian Dawn Fraser was the first swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Olympics, doing so in the 100 freestyle from 1956-64.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-this-date-dawn-fraser-captures-first-olympic-gold-of-title-three-peat-in-100-freestyle\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"On This Date: Dawn Fraser Captures First Olympic Gold of Title Three-Peat in 100 Freestyle\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Australian Dawn Fraser was the first swimmer to win the same event at three consecutive Olympics, doing so in the 100 freestyle from 1956-64.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-this-date-dawn-fraser-captures-first-olympic-gold-of-title-three-peat-in-100-freestyle\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Swimming World\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwimmingWorld\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T07:03:10+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T17:40:57+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/e9c7a083bb9eddfa469eace6f249ffc8.jpeg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"John Lohn - 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