The Diaries of Sally Foster and Evelyn de Lacy, Olympic Swimmers
Evelyn de Lacy, Sally Foster
In May 1936, the Australian Olympic team set sail for Berlin with a live kangaroo for a mascot. On board was Western Australian swimmer Evelyn de Lacy who recorded her experiences in a diary. Seventy-six years later her grandniece, Sally Foster, qualified for the London Olympics. Inspired by Evelyn's words she decided to write her own diary.
The 1936 Berlin Olympic Games were contested as the world was on the edge of collapse. Oblivious to the impending war, Evelyn wrote with delight of touring the airfields of the Reich and mock bombing raids; and of sitting in Hitler's box in the Olympic Stadium.
Sally takes us from the swimming trials in Adelaide onto the starting blocks in London. The Australian Swim Team was embroiled in controversy before the 2012 London Olympic Games even started. Accusations of recreational drug use and bullying whilst the team prepared in a camp in Manchester were followed by disappointment in the pool during the Games.
Born to Swim tells the story of two young Australians, of the times they lived in and the challenges faced as they lived their Olympic dream.
Evelyn de Lacy was a Western Australian freestyle swimmer who competed at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Seventy-six years later her grandniece, Sally Foster, swam at the London Olympics. For Australian swimming, both were Games mired in controversy. Evelyn and Sally recorded their experiences in journals that reveal the days and weeks before competition, the drama of swimming for your country at the highest level, and the changing times.
Evelyn de Lacy was a Western Australian freestyle swimmer who competed at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. For Australian swimming, the Games were mired in controversy. Evelyn recorded her experiences in journals that reveal the days and weeks before competition, the drama of swimming for your country at the highest level, and the changing times.
Sally Foster, grandniece of Western Australian freestyle swimmer Evelyn de Lacy, swam at the 2012 London Olympics. For Australian swimming, the Games were mired in controversy. Sally recorded her experiences in journals that reveal the days and weeks before competition, the drama of swimming for your country at the highest level, and the changing times.