In addition to winning an Olympic gold medal for water polo, Eric Forsyth of Salford SC was also a champion swimmer. In 1904, he beat the rising star, Henry Taylor, for the ASA 220 yards freestyle title and also beat David Billington in the final of both the 500 and 880 yards championships. Forsyth also enjoyed two second places in the ASA 220 in 1903 and 1905. He captured the 500 Metres World Championship at Joinville-le-Pont, Paris in 1904 and in 1906 was selected for all four freestyle events at the Intercalated Olympics, but was a non-starter in all of them.
Forsyth started his water polo career with the Manchester League second division team Leaf Street before joining Hyde Seal, and then Salford. He played for Lancashire, and in 1903 made his England début and subsequently went on to play for, and captain his country on many occasions. He continued playing for Lancashire up to the outbreak of World War I, when he served with the 1st City Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. At the 1908 Olympics, he scored three goals in Great Britain’s 9-2 win over Belgium in the final. Forsyth played rugby in the winter months, and by occupation was a clerk for the Salford City Council.
Great Britain