- Tracey Wickham
Tracey Lee Wickham MBE OAM (born 24 November 1962 in Rosebud, Victoria) is a former
Australia n middle distance swimmer, who won both the 400 m and 800 m freestyle at the1978 Commonwealth Games . The same year, she set world records in both events, and won both the 400m and 800m freestyle at the 1978 World Championships, setting a world 400m record of 4.06.28, which stood as the Championship record till 2007. Both world records stood until 1987, long after her retirement.In 1980, Australia elected not to officially boycott the
1980 Summer Olympics . However Wickham, along with a number of other Australian athletes, elected to boycott the Games personally. The 800 m freestyle was won by fellow AustralianMichelle Ford .She again won gold in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle at the
1982 Commonwealth Games . She retired soon after. The athlete's oath at the Opening Ceremony of the 1982 Commonwealth Games was also taken by Wickham.Personal life
She was educated at the
All Hallows' School , inBrisbane . Wickham later had two children, including Hannah who died ofsynovial sarcoma on 2 October 2007. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22528230-2,00.html Tracey Wickham's daughter's dying wish | NEWS.com.au ] ]Honours and awards
On 30 December 1978, she became a Member of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. [cite web | url = http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1086313&search_type=simple&showInd=true | title = Tracey Wickham | publisher = Australian Honours Database | accessdate = 2007-01-04]
On 25 October 2000, she was awarded the
Australian Sports Medal for outstanding contribution as a competitor in swimming. [cite web | url = http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=974661&search_type=simple&showInd=true | title = Tracey Wickham | publisher = Australian Honours Database | accessdate = 2007-01-04]On 13 June 2005, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to Australian swimming and to the development of young swimmers through teaching and coaching roles. [cite web | url = http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1059034&search_type=simple&showInd=true | title = Tracey Wickham | publisher = Australian Honours Database | accessdate = 2007-01-04]
References
ee also
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Commonwealth Games records in swimming External links
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*Persondata
NAME=Wickham, Tracey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Swimmer
DATE OF BIRTH=24 November 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH=Rosebud, Victoria,Australia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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