Elaine Tanner facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | "Mighty Mouse" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 22, 1951 Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Height | 1.60 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 61 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Backstroke, butterfly, freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Pacific Dolphins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Meet Elaine Tanner-Watt, OC, a super talented Canadian swimmer. She was born on February 22, 1951. Elaine was an amazing athlete who won three Olympic medals. She even held world records in five different swimming events!
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Elaine Tanner: The "Mighty Mouse" Swimmer
Elaine Tanner was known as "Mighty Mouse." This nickname came from her small size (she was barely five feet tall). It also showed her strong competitive spirit. She made a huge impact on Canadian swimming. Many people think she is one of the best swimmers ever.
Making History at the Commonwealth Games
In 1966, Elaine went to the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. She made history there. She was the first woman to win four gold medals at these Games. She was also the first person to win seven medals in total at one Commonwealth Games!
Later in 1966, Elaine won the Lou Marsh Trophy. This award goes to Canada's top athlete. She was the youngest person ever to win it. This showed everyone she was the best athlete in the country.
Pan American Games and Olympics
The next year, in 1967, Elaine competed at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. She continued her winning streak. She earned two gold medals and three silver medals. She also broke two world records!
Everyone expected Elaine to win many gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. She did win three Olympic medals. She got two silver medals in individual races. She also won a bronze medal as part of a relay team.
Life After Competition
After the 1968 Olympics, Elaine stopped competing in swimming. She was only 18 years old.
Awards and Special Honors
Elaine Tanner has received many important awards. These awards celebrate her amazing swimming career.
- In 1969, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor in Canada.
- In 1971, she was added to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. This means she is recognized as one of Canada's greatest athletes.
- Since 1972, the Elaine Tanner Award has been given out. This award goes to Canada's best young female athletes. It helps inspire new swimmers.
Personal Life
Elaine Tanner found happiness after her swimming career. She met a former lifeguard named John Watt. They got married and now live in White Rock, British Columbia. Together, they started a charity called Team Underdog.
See also
In Spanish: Elaine Tanner para niños
