Atkinson represented Great Britain at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, where she competed in the preliminary heats of the women's 100- and 200-metre butterfly events.
Atkinson was born in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, England, and she attended Millfield School in Somerset.[2] At Millfield, Atkinson was trained by swimming coach Paddy Garratt.
As a 15-year-old, she represented England at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she reached the finals of the women's 100-metre butterfly and 4×100-metre medley relay events.[3][4][5] At the ASA National British Championships she won the 100 metres butterfly title in 1973 and 1975 [6][7] and the 200 metres butterfly title in 1975.[8]
After Millfield, Atkinson attended the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, where she competed for the Miami Hurricanes swimming and diving team in 1977 and 1978, and received All-American honours both years. She later completed a PGCE at Durham University.[9]
United Kingdom
