Esme Harris
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Headington, Oxford, England
Oxford, England
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Esme Gwyneth Harris |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 20 October 1932 Headington, Oxford, England |
| Died | 9 June 2023 (aged 90) Oxford, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Diving |
| Club | Hammersmith Ladies SC |
Esme Harris (20 October 1932 – 9 June 2023) was a British diver. She competed in the women's 3 metre springboard event at the 1948 Summer Olympics[1] and was the youngest British Olympian that year at the age of fifteen.[2] After marrying, she became known as Esme Gibb.[2]
Harris grew up in Oxford, and started diving from the age of six, with her father Evan Harris as her coach.[2] She trained at Temple Cowley Pools daily after school.[2] She first started competing as a freestyle swimmer,[3] and also did gymnastics.[2] At the age of 13, she tied for first place in the junior 100 yard swim race, in a dead heat during the 1946 Oxford County Championships.[3]
Diving career
Harris became the senior Oxford County springboard diving champion in 1947.[3] In July of that year, she also entered the national Women's Springboard Championship at St. Leonards, and placed last.[4] According to the Daily Mirror, Harris '"failed badly on two of her dives", causing the crowds to "[raise] their eyebrows" and groan in disappointment.[4] Afterwards, upon learning that Harris was only 14 years old and had decided to "have a go" at the senior competition because there was no competition at the junior level, "she got a special cheer all to herself" and was lifted up high by a group of male divers to celebrate her attempt.[4]
The year before the Olympics, she traveled from Oxford to London on Saturdays to train with Millie Hudson and competed as part of the Hammersmith Ladies Swimming Club.[5][6]
In July 1948, she placed first in the women's indoor springboard diving trials in Blackpool,[5][3] securing her place on the British Olympic diving team just one month before the start of the Olympic Games in London.[2] Harris placed 13th in the women's springboard competition at the Olympics.[3] Only 15 years old, Esme Harris received extensive media coverage both nationally and internationally.[6][7]
A French coach, Andrew Henry Caza, said of her performance at the 1948 Olympics, "Esme Harris is a real prospect for 1952. She is well-trained to get good height on her take-offs, and has steady balance and timing. She needs now to work on neater entries, with a better foot stretch, but she is very young and will gain this with experience."[6]
