Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
British swimmer who won Olympic gold in the 100m backstroke at the 1956 Melbourne Games, ending Britain's 24-year wait for a swimming gold.
Eight records
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor
But as he said, um the only pop music I had was that.
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated
That reminds me of a very happy wonderful at the weekend.
Lullaby of BirdlandFavourite
She's the only singer in the world I would like to be, and I think her recording of 'Lullaby of Birdland' is wonderful.
The keepsakes
The luxury
Not recorded.
In conversation
Presenter asks
How old were you when you started swimming?
Well, I started splashing around without without my rubber ring when I was eight and I j I joined my club really as a hobby when I was eleven.
Presenter asks
What was the very first competitive event you took part in?
Well, I think it was a club event and I I came in a very poor last splashing miles behind me.
Presenter asks
When did you really start training, seriously?
Well, I never really um thought about training seriously. I was entered for small events and I used to train for those, then entered for a larger event and you know, train hard for those. But I suppose the r really most training I've ever done was before the Olympic Games.
Presenter asks
When did you first swim abroad?
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Presenter
This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.
Presenter
Judy, you are a Londoner, aren't you? Yes.
Presenter
How old were you when you started swimming?
Judy Grinham
Well, I started splashing around without without my rubber ring when I was eight and
Judy Grinham
I j I joined my club really as a hobby when I was eleven.
Presenter
Yeah. What was the very first competitive event you took part in?
Judy Grinham
Well, I think it was a club event and I I came in a very poor last splashing miles behind me.
Presenter
Oh dear. When did you really start training, seriously?
Judy Grinham
Well, I never really um thought about training seriously. I was entered for small events and I used to train for those, then entered for a larger event and you know, train hard for those. But I suppose the r really most training I've ever done was before the Olympic Games.
Presenter
Hm. When did you first swim abroad?
Judy Grinham
He was in Denmark. Um I swam for England. It was my second international.
Judy Grinham
And, um, I think it was nineteen fifty five.
Presenter
While he was still at school.
Judy Grinham
Yes.
Presenter
Well, 1955 was a terrific year for you, wasn't it? You beat the champions of six nations in the 100 metres backstroke in Moscow, you beat the British record for 100 yards, and you won every possible championship in Britain.
Judy Grinham
I was very lucky that year.
Presenter
And you were only sixteen.
Presenter
Well then you were were picked for the Olympic team for the following year at Melbourne. That's, you say, when you really had to start getting down to work.
Judy Grinham
Yeah.
Presenter
How many hours a day did you train before that?
Judy Grinham
Well, um I left school um a term before I should have done.
Judy Grinham
But, um, I was doing about five hours a day, I think, altogether.
Presenter
Well, it certainly paid off because you won us the first swimming gold medal for 24 years, established a new Olympic record for the 100 metres backstroke. It was a very close race, wasn't it?
Judy Grinham
Yes, it was very close. Um the girl who was second, American girl Karen Cohn, she did the same time as I did and Margaret Ebbers, the British girl who was third, um was only a fifth of a second behind.
Presenter
Now during the the ten minutes before the result was given, must have been a a a terrible ten minutes for you were you confident and knew did you know you had won?
Judy Grinham
Oh no, I had the faintest idea who was when all I cared was that it was over.
Presenter
Are you very nervous before a race?
Judy Grinham
Well, I suppose I am. People say I don't show it, but I'm always nervous inside. But, um, it's always best to be nervous because I think that helps really.
Presenter
I'm sure it does. Are you superstitious, Judy? Ha have you a mascot you travel with you?
Judy Grinham
Yes, I have I usually carry a black cat around with me and I usually wear Saint Christopher.
He was in Denmark. Um I swam for England. It was my second international. And, um, I think it was nineteen fifty five.
Presenter asks
It was a very close race, wasn't it?
Yes, it was very close. Um the girl who was second, American girl Karen Cohn, she did the same time as I did and Margaret Ebbers, the British girl who was third, um was only a fifth of a second behind.
Presenter asks
During the ten minutes before the result was given, were you confident you had won?
Oh no, I had the faintest idea who was when all I cared was that it was over.
Presenter asks
Are you very nervous before a race?
Well, I suppose I am. People say I don't show it, but I'm always nervous inside. But, um, it's always best to be nervous because I think that helps really.
Presenter asks
Are you superstitious, Judy? Have you a mascot you travel with you?
Yes, I have I usually carry a black cat around with me and I usually wear Saint Christopher.
“Well, um I left school um a term before I should have done. But, um, I was doing about five hours a day, I think, altogether.”
“Well it certainly paid off because you won us the first swimming gold medal for 24 years, established a new Olympic record for the 100 metres backstroke. It was a very close race, wasn't it? Yes, it was very close. Um the girl who was second, American girl Karen Cohn, she did the same time as I did and Margaret Ebbers, the British girl who was third, um was only a fifth of a second behind.”