This biography is from “Times Like These: An Anthology of Australian Olympic Swimming Champions”. You can buy the book here

DAWN FRASER

1956, 1960, 1964

Dawn Fraser is the only female swimmer to win the gold medal in the same Olympic event on three occasions. She achieved the feat by winning the 100m freestyle in 1956, 1960 and 1964. Born in the Sydney suburb of Balmain in 1937, Fraser has become as synonymous with the district as former New South Wales Premier Neville Wran, and rugby league legend Wayne Pearce. In 1956 Fraser was selected in the Australian Olympic squad to contest the 100m and 400m freestyle events. She was also a member of the Australian 4 x 100m freestyle relay team that won the gold medal in world record time. In the 100m, Fraser set a new Olympic record in her heat before winning her semi-final. In the final, she set a world record of 1:02.0 to finish a fraction of a second ahead of fellow Australian Lorraine Crapp to claim the gold medal. Fraser also set an Olympic record in winning her heat of the 400m. She swam the same time in the final, but had to be content with the silver medal 38 after finishing second to Crapp, who shaved close to eight seconds off Fraser’s record time. In 1960 Fraser competed in the same events at the Rome Olympics, and was also a member of Australia’s 4 x 100m medley relay team. She won silver medals in both team events, and finished fifth in the final of the 400m. In the 100m event, Fraser set a new Olympic record in winning her semi-final. She beat her own record in the final setting a new Olympic record of 1:01.2 on her way to winning a gold medal in the event for a second time. Fraser won four gold medals in individual and team events at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth before representing Australia at a third Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. She competed in the same four events as the 1960 Games. In the relays, Australia missed the final of the 4 x 100m medley, but won silver in the 4 x 100m freestyle after finishing second behind a world record setting team from the United States. In the 400m, Fraser finished less than half a second outside of the medals; coming in fourth behind a 39 trio of American teenagers. However in the 100m, Fraser set new Olympic records in both her heat and semi-final. In the final she swam a new Olympic record time of 59.5 seconds to win the gold medal in the event for the third time. During the Tokyo Games, Fraser was accused of stealing an Olympic flag, and was hit with a lengthy suspension. The ban was lifted in 1968, but it was too late to allow Fraser an opportunity to qualify for a fourth Olympics. In retirement, Fraser became a swimming coach and a publican. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965. In 1967 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In 1988 she won a seat in the New South Wales parliament, and served three years as an independent member.