Winifred Griffin facts for kids
Griffin in 1956
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Winifred Clare Griffin | |||||||||||||
| Born | 17 November 1932 Kawakawa, New Zealand |
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| Died | 11 December 2018 (aged 86) Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand |
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| Spouse(s) | Kerry Ashby | |||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | |||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||
| National finals | 220 yards freestyle champion (1951, 1953, 1955, 1957) 440 yards freestyle champion (1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957) |
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Medal record
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Winifred Clare Ashby (born Griffin), also known as "Winkie", was a talented swimmer from New Zealand. She was born on 17 November 1932 and passed away on 11 December 2018. Winifred was best known for her skills in freestyle swimming, which is a popular swimming style where swimmers can choose any stroke.
Contents
A Champion New Zealand Swimmer
Winifred Ashby was a strong competitor in the pool. She represented New Zealand in big international sports events. Her career highlights include winning medals and national titles.
Early Games and Achievements
Winifred made her mark at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand. These games are now called the Commonwealth Games. It is a major sports event for countries that were once part of the British Empire.
At the 1950 Games, Winifred won a silver medal. She was part of the New Zealand 4 x 110 yards freestyle relay team. A relay race involves a team of swimmers, each swimming a part of the total distance. She also competed in other races. In the 440 yards freestyle, she finished fourth. She placed sixth in the 110 yards freestyle.
Winifred also took part in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. She competed in the 440 yards and 110 yards freestyle events.
Olympic Dreams
Winifred Ashby had the chance to compete at the biggest sports event in the world. She swam at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. She entered two freestyle races: the 100 meters and the 400 meters. In the Olympics, swimmers first compete in "heats." These are early races to decide who goes on to the next round. Winifred was eliminated in the heats for both of her events.
National Swimming Success
Winifred was not only good on the international stage. She was also a champion in her home country. She won nine New Zealand national swimming titles during her career.
She won the 220 yards freestyle four times:
- 1951
- 1953
- 1955
- 1957
She also won the 440 yards freestyle five times:
- 1951
- 1953
- 1954
- 1955
- 1957
Personal Life
Winifred Ashby was married to Kerry Ashby. He was also a famous New Zealand athlete, known for his rowing. Kerry Ashby passed away in 2015. Winifred Ashby herself passed away on 11 December 2018. She died from cancer on the Hibiscus Coast, which is north of Auckland.
