The Australian Olympic Committee has paid tribute to former Olympic swimming coach Harry Gallagher OAM who has passed away aged 96.
Best known for spotting a talented teenager in Dawn Fraser and training her through her remarkable career, Harry Gallagher coached athletes to nine gold, six silver and three bronze Olympic medals – and an extraordinary 52 world records.
He coached some of Australia’s most famous Olympic names including Dawn Fraser, Jon Henricks, Lorraine Crapp, Michael Wenden, Brad Cooper and Lyn McClements.
AOC President John Coates says Harry Gallagher was an extraordinary coach with a special bond.
“Harry was a greater innovator. It’s an enormous tribute to him that Dawn remained so devoted to Harry all those years since he first spotted her talent as a 14-year-old at the Balmain Baths, a swimming pool that now bears her name.
“There would not be many coach and athlete relationships that survived the years in that way. It’s a very sad day for his family, friends, the many athletes he coached and the entire Olympic family.”
Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989, Harry Gallagher’s coaching played a key role in Australia’s success in the pool from Melbourne 1956 to Mexico City 1968. His influence as Head Coach at the 1968 Games is evident, with our swimmers bringing home 17 medals despite an average age of just 16.
He also published several books on swimming.
Dawn Fraser remains one of only three athletes to have won an Olympic individual event three times – the 100 metres freestyle in her case - in 1956, 1960 and 1964. In total, she won four gold medals and four silver medals. She says she owes her career to Harry Gallagher.
“He taught me everything I know. He was always Mr Gallagher, or coach to me. Never Harry. But we had a beautiful affection for each other. I would not have succeeded without him.
“Mr Gallagher taught me self-discipline. If you missed a session, you doubled up the next day. That’s how it was. We have stayed in touch all these years. I feel I belong to his family and him to mine.
“If he didn’t know something, he would ask the top professionals in that field. If he wanted to know about the heart, he brought in Professor Edward Both, who invented the portable electrocardiograph machine. He trialled it on me and Jon Henricks. He always went to the top people.
“He was fair dinkum, a true Aussie,” Ms Fraser said.
