Harold Smyrk moved to England in the summer of 1903 and joined the newly-formed Cygnus Swimming Club. Despite being just 13-years-of-age at the time, he was already a two-time diving champion of Sydney, New South Wales, having won his first title in 1900. He was educated at Tiffins’ School in Kingston, Surrey, and as a member of their swimming and diving club won both the 100 and 200 yards freestyle titles at the Surrey and London Secondary Schools Championship in 1905 and 1906. Runner-up in the National Diving Championship in 1906, he was one of two divers, along with Melville Clark, to represent Great Britain at the Athens Olympics that year. Smyrk won the national title in 1907 and 1908, and was third in 1909. He returned to his native Australia shortly afterwards but, on the way home, finished second to George Gaidzik in the US National Diving Championship. An architect by profession, Smyrk was appointed coach to the South Australia Water Polo Association in 1929. He was also a polo referee.
Great Britain