Phyllis May Harding (15 December 1907 – 16 November 1992), later known by her married name Phyllis Turner, was an English backstroke and freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1924 Summer Olympics, 1928 Summer Olympics, 1932 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics. She was the first woman to compete in four Olympics.[2]
In 1932, she set world records in both the 100 and 200-meter backstroke.[3]
In the 1924 Olympics, in the first Olympic backstroke race for women, she won a silver medal in the 100-metre event. Four years later in Amsterdam she was third in the first round of the 100-metre backstroke event and did not advance. In the 1932 Olympics she was fourth in the 100-metre backstroke event. In the 1936 Olympics she was seventh in the 100-metre backstroke event.[1]
Harding won a European Championship backstroke bronze medal at Bologna, Italy in 1927, and another at Paris in 1931, where she also won a silver medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay. Harding more significant international victories were at the British Empire Games where she captured a gold medal in the 4x100 yard freestyle relay in 1930 and took an individual gold in backstroke in 1934. She also won a bronze in the backstroke in 1930 and a silver in the 3x110 yards medley relay in 1934.[3][4]
Harding was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a "Pioneer Swimmer" in 1995.[3]
Harding ended her competitive swimming career after the 1936 Olympics, and told the public she was to be known as Mrs. Turner. On 31 March 1934 she had married Coventry solicitor James Turner at St. Albans Church in Golders Green N.W. London. Her pink wedding cake featured a small swimming pool made of sugar.[5][1]
She died on 16 November 1992, in Rugby, England, at the age of 84.[1][6]
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