Percy Oliver

Who was Percy Oliver?

Percival "Percy" Cole Oliver was an Australian backstroke swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Oliver was born in Nedlands, Western Australia and attended Hale School. He won 13 freestyle and backstroke Australian titles.

At the age seventeen he competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, where he finished seventh in the 100 metre backstroke event.

Two years later he won the 110 yards backstroke competition at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney. He also won a bronze medal as member of the Australian team in the 3 x 110 yards medley contest and competed in the 110 yards freestyle.

Oliver went on to teach at Mt Lawley and Hollywood Senior High Schools before taking over the administration of the Education Department's vacation swimming program.

He died on 9 July 2011 at the age of 92.