Tony Summers had a remarkably long swimming career which started as a diving prodigy in the late 1920s and only ended in 2012 as an 88 year old backstroke swimmer competing in masters events. He was taught to swim by his father who went on to coach him throughout his career. Summers spent the last year of World War II as a fighter pilot in India and South-East Asia and remained in the Royal Air Force until 1947. On returning to civilian life he attempted to qualify for the 1948 Olympics and was successful in gaining the final place on the British team in the 100 m backstroke. Summers was unfortunate at the London Olympics as he missed a semi-final as a fastest loser by one solitary position. A civil engineer by profession, he worked for a variety of government agencies eventually becoming the Forestry Commission’s Commissioning Engineer for Wales.
Great Britain