The 1924 Summer Olympics, held in Paris, France, saw the participation of several Australian swimmers, including a number of athletes from Manly, a suburb of Sydney known for its beaches and water sports.
One of the most notable Manly swimmers at the 1924 Olympics was Boy Charlton, who won two gold medals in the men's freestyle events. Charlton, who was just 17 years old at the time, set a world record in the 1500m freestyle and also won gold in the 400m freestyle event.
In addition to Charlton, several other Manly swimmers competed at the 1924 Olympics, including Cecil Healy, who won a gold medal as part of the Australian 4x200m freestyle relay team, and Frank Beaurepaire, who won a silver medal in the men's 200m breaststroke event.
The success of the Manly swimmers at the 1924 Olympics helped to cement Australia's reputation as a world-class swimming nation, and inspired a new generation of athletes to pursue their dreams of Olympic glory. Today, Manly remains an important centre of swimming and water sports in Australia, with many top athletes and coaches calling the area home.
Andrew "Boy" Charlton profile 27 April 1924