Colin James Callan (1927 – 21 May 1992) was an Australian-born New Zealand swimmer who specialised in butterfly and breaststroke, and represented New Zealand at the 1950 British Empire Games. He won eight New Zealand national swimming titles.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Colin James Callan |
| Born | 1927 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 21 May 1992 (aged 64–65) |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Club | Waitemata Swimming Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | 100 yd breaststroke champion (1949) 220 yd breaststroke champion (1949) 100 yd butterfly champion (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953) 220 yd butterfly champion (1951) 100 yd individual medley champion (1950) |
Early life and family
editBorn in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Callan was the son of James and Winifred Etheleen Callan.[1][2] In November 1932, four-year-old Callan saw his seven-year-old sister, Juanetta, drown in Avoca Lake, shortly after the family had moved to the area from Darlinghurst, Sydney.[2]
In about 1947, Callan moved to New Zealand, and he worked as a mechanic.[1][3] He later trained as a primary school teacher and worked on the North Shore of Auckland
Swimming
editIn his early years as a competitive swimmer, Callan was a member of the East Sydney Swimming Club, where he was coached by Australian 1936 Olympian William Kendall.[4] In 1945 and 1946, he finished second in the New South Wales intermediate 110 yards breaststroke championships.[5][6] He became a swimming instructor for the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association.[7]
After moving to New Zealand, Callan won eight New Zealand national swimming titles: the 100 yards and 220 yards breastroke in 1949; the 100 yards individual medley in 1950; the 220 yards butterfly in 1951; and the 100 yards butterfly in successive years from 1950 to 1953.[8]
At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, Callan competed in the 220 yards breaststroke.[9] He recorded the sixth-fastest time of 3:05.7 in the heats,[10] and progressed to the final where he swam the distance in 3:09.8 to finish in sixth place.[11]
Other sports
editCallan was also an accomplished surfer. In 1949, he was runner-up in the Auckland championships, and was also second in the surf skiing event.[1]
Later life and death
editCallan died on 21 May 1992, and his body was cremated at North Shore Crematorium in Auckland.[12] His ashes were buried with those of his parents at Kincumber, New South Wales, close to Avoca Lake.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c Packer, Don (26 July 1950). "N.Z. swim star in training". The Argus. p. 15. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Tragedy at Avoca". Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate. 10 November 1932. p. 13. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Swimming team". Otago Daily Times. 4 January 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Young swimmers are helped by former champion". Newcastle Sun. 9 January 1945. p. 11. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Youth beats veteran in N.S.W. swim". Sunday Mail. 14 January 1945. p. 9. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Off "Black Maria" into title". Truth. 20 January 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Swimming carnival". The Independent. 14 February 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ McLintock, A.H., ed. (1966). "Swimming – national championships". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Colin Callan". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Aust., N.Z. girls set Empire swim records". Gisborne Herald. 7 February 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Girls topple Empire swimming records". Gisborne Herald. 9 February 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ "Record for Colin James Callan". Auckland Council. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Coin James Callan". BillionGraves. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2019.