Edna Child
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Essex, England
 Edna Child at the 1950 British Empire Games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 16 October 1922 West Ham, Essex, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 20 May 2023 (aged 100) Essex, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Diving | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Plaistow United Swimming Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Edna Lilian Child (later Tyn and Tinegate; 16 October 1922 – 20 May 2023) was a British diver. Competing in the 3 metre springboard she won a gold medal at the 1950 British Empire Games and a bronze at the 1938 European Championships and finished sixth at the 1948 Summer Olympics. At the 1950 British Empire Games she also won a gold medal in the 10 metre platform. Her husband Ken Tinegate competed in rowing at those Games.[1]
At an early age, Child was diagnosed with empyema and spent much of her childhood undergoing operations.[2] Following one serious operation, she was thereafter advised to be careful not to over-exert herself. Although she started swimming at the age of seven, her real passion was diving. By July 1937 and under the coaching of Reginald Laxton, she was the springboard champion of the Southern Counties and Essex Ladies, having only been diving for around two years.[3]
Career
Child won two gold medals at the 1950 British Empire Games, a bronze at the 1938 European Championships and finished sixth at the 1948 Summer Olympics. In July 1938, she was invited to represent England at the European swimming championships by the Amateur Swimming Association.[4] By 1948, she was also a school teacher.[5]
While training for the 1950 British Empire Games, Child injured herself while doing a somersault on a new trampoline at the Highgate Diving Club, having misjudged the additional height compared to an Olympic regulation springboard. Despite dislocating her instep bone, her coach bandaged it up and she returned to training. At this time, she was described as being a "triple English diving champion".[6] In the 1950 British Empire Games, Child became the first English competitor to gain a "double", having one gold medals in each of the two diving events she competed in.[7]
In February 1950, she announced her retirement from competitive diving, stating that she "shall go back to being a housewife" and that it was likely she would emigrate to Canada with her husband.[8] She announced her plans to emigrate in April 1950, having turned down "a very tempting offer" of £1000 to remain in England as a professional, undertaking a diving tour of Great Britain over five months.[9] In August 1951, she gave a diving display at the North Wales swimming and diving championships, an annual event that was held in the Bay of Colwyn Swimming Pool.[10]
