Brian Clifford

{{short description|Irish swimmer}}

{{for|the south London criminal and club owner|Brian "Little Legs" Clifford}}

{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|8|20|df=yes}}

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Brian Clifford (born 20 August 1956) is an Irish former swimmer. From Cork, Clifford attended Presentation Brothers College and played with the Irish schools' rugby team.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-20467737.html | website = Irish Examiner | title = City split by clash of colours as Pres meet old rivals Christians | date = 28 February 2018 | accessdate = 1 April 2025 | quote = [In 1975] Pres advanced to a final against Rockwell and emerged as deserved winners. In their number was, Jimmy Bowen [..] and Brian Clifford, who was an Irish Olympic swimmer [..] All three played on the first-ever Irish Schools team later in that 1975 season against England }} At the age of 15,{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/news/its-sink-or-swim-for-olympians-girl/26663441.html | work = Irish Independent | title = It's sink or swim for Olympian's girl | date = 1 July 2010 | accessdate = 1 April 2025 | quote = her father, Brian, was himself a noted swimmer and represented Ireland at the 1972 Olympics in Munich when just 15 years old }} he represented Ireland in the men's 1500 metre freestyle at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cl/brian-clifford-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418091813/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cl/brian-clifford-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Brian Clifford Olympic Results |access-date=21 November 2016}}{{cite news|url= https://scontent.frtm1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/96215217_1611039029053978_939836795388952576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0b6b33&_nc_ohc=pMr-Sfgi_fYQ7kNvgHiTO79&_nc_oc=Adms1CBFAuSdWNeMgYLCYer8QtsOLYMy1ysN2bfPYuqMS6EW0ISdOc37o_UMNrc23I4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.frtm1-2.fna&_nc_gid=H2N3w9cKcY3mxCiwV7OVBQ&oh=00_AYGAfoPskUgfMZl71UhEQvUdKXNQDFbR6O3kHKZ8V_qqhA&oe=6812F62B|title=Meet Munster’s only Olympic Swimmer|work=The Echo|date=30 April 2020|page=34|via=Facebook}} He qualified for the Munich Olympics based on the times recorded at the Amateur Swimming Association championships in July 1972.{{cite news | url = https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19720717/332/0013 | newspaper = Belfast Telegraph | title = Two Hit Irish Swim Target | quote = Only two Irish swimmers, Aisling O'Leary and Brian Clifford, can definitely count on a trip to Munich for the Olympic Games. At the A.S.A. championships in London, both bettered the required target times | date = 17 July 1972 | page = 13 | via = britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk }}{{cite news |url = https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004162/19720722/213/0011 | title = Munich's Tragic Comedy | newspaper = Ireland's Saturday Night | quote = can definitely count on a Munich trip are Dublin's Aisling O'Leary and Cork's Brian Clifford. In the ASA championships at Crystal Palace, both broke the qualifying barriers | date = 22 July 1972 | page = 11 | via = britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk }} In 1985, Clifford participated in the inaugural World Masters Games in Toronto.{{cite web|url = https://www.corkmasters.ie/new-page | work = corkmasters.ie | title = Cork Masters Swimming Club - About | accessdate = 1 April 2025 | quote = 1985 Cork Masters sent a team of 17 to compete in the Inaugural World Masters Games in Toronto [..] Brian Clifford also travelled and competed}}