Ellen King

Who was Ellen King?

Ellen Elizabeth King was a Scottish swimmer who competed at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics. In 1924, although ill, she finished sixth in the 100 m backstroke event and, aged 15, was the youngest participant. In 1928 she won two silver medals, in the 4×100 m freestyle relay and 100 m backstroke events.

In the late 1920s King held the world records in the 150 and 220 yard breaststroke. At the 1930 British Empire Games she won a silver medal in the 100 yard freestyle and a bronze medal in the 200 yard breaststroke. As a member of the Scottish relay team she won her second bronze medal in the 4×100 yard freestyle competition.

Ellen King swam for the Warrender Baths Club in Scotland and was a swimming teacher at Edinburgh schools for forty years until her retirement in 1974. In 2002 she was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.