Florrie Barker won the Northern Counties junior 75 yards freestyle title in 1921 at the age of 13, and three years later was an Olympic silver medallist. She appeared at her first ASA Championships in 1923, finishing fourth in the 220 yards free, and the following year added two third places in the ASA 100 and 220 to the Northern Counties senior title she won that year. A dramatic victory in the 100 metres freestyle in the final Olympic trial at Blackpool, when she beat Connie Jeans on the line by inches, and with the first five virtually in a line, secured her a place on the British team for the Paris Olympics. She was one of three Southport residents, along with Jack Taylor (1500 metres) and Irene Hatch (4x100 free relay first reserve), on the swimming team. Barker returned home with a silver medal as part of the relay quartet. After her Olympic success, she joined the Warrington Swimming Club in 1925 before a return to Southport Victoria shortly afterwards.
Great Britain