Phyllis Dewar
{{short description|Canadian swimmer}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name = Phyllis Dewar
| image = Phyliis_Dewar.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| fullname = Phyllis Delma Dewar
| nicknames =
| national_team = {{flag|Canada|1921}}
| strokes = Freestyle
| club =
| collegeteam =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|3|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1961|4|8|1916|3|5|mf=y}}
| death_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| height =
| weight =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Women's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | Canada}}
{{MedalCompetition | British Empire Games}}
{{MedalGold | 1934 London | 100 yd freestyle}}
{{MedalGold | 1934 London | 440 yd freestyle}}
{{MedalGold | 1934 London | 4×110 yd freestyle}}
{{MedalGold | 1934 London | 3×110 yd medley}}
{{MedalGold | 1938 Sydney | 4×110 yd freestyle}}
}}
Phyllis Delma Dewar (March 5, 1916 – April 8, 1961), also known by her married name Phyllis Lowery, was a Canadian competition swimmer and freestyle specialist. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, she was a member of the Canadian relay team that finished fourth in the women's 4×100-metre freestyle relay. In the 100-metre freestyle, she advanced to the semifinals of the event before being eliminated.
In the 1934 British Empire Games in London, she won gold medals in the 100-yard and 440-yard freestyle events and in two relays. Four years later, at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney, she won her fifth gold medal in the 4×110-yard freestyle relay.
Early life
Dewar was born on March 5, 1916, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She began swimming during her early childhood.{{cite encyclopedia |last=Ferguson |first=Bob|title=Phyllis Dewar |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |year=2008 |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/phyllis-dewar/}}
Career
In the mid-1930s, Dewar was the Canadian freestyle record holder in numerous freestyle events including the 100-yard and one-mile races.{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Stoffel |first1=Holden |last2=Zemlak |first2=Karen |editor-last=Mlazga |editor-first=Brian |title=Dewar, Phyllis |encyclopedia=Saskatchewan Sports: Lives Past and Present |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k7ptThh_6qgC&pg=PA29 |year=2007 |publisher=University of Regina |isbn=9780889771673 |page=29}} In international competitions, she won four gold medals at the 1934 British Empire Games and her final gold at the 1938 British Empire Games.{{cite web |title=Winners: Phyllis Dewar, Swimming |url=http://www.conacher-rosenfeld.ca/les_gagnants-winners/rosenfeld/phyllis_dewar-eng.html |website=Greatest Sporting Moments |access-date=May 30, 2018}} She also competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics but did not medal. After ending her swimming career in the late 1930s, Dewar served in the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service.
Awards and honors
In 1934, Dewar was the recipient of both the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award and Velma Springstead Trophy as the best Canadian female athlete of that year. Dewar was posthumously inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1967.{{cite web|title=Phyllis Dewar |url=http://sasksportshalloffame.com/inductees/phyllis-dewar/|website=Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=May 10, 2018}} Other posthumous inductions include Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1971{{cite web|title=PHYLLIS DEWAR|url=http://www.sportshall.ca/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-search.html?proID=49|website=Canada's Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=May 10, 2018}} and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1972.{{cite web|title=Members of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame|url=https://olympic.ca/canadian-olympic-hall-of-fame/|website=Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame|access-date=May 10, 2018}}
Death
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite web|title=Phyllis Dewar|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/de/phyllis-dewar-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418003849/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/de/phyllis-dewar-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18|publisher=sports-reference}}
- {{cite web|url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/dewar_phyllis_1916-61.html|title=Dewar, Phyllis (1916–61)}} with picture
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 100m Freestyle Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 400m Freestyle Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 4x100m Freestyle Women}}
{{Bobbie Rosenfeld Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dewar, Phyllis}}
Category:Canadian female freestyle swimmers
Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Canada
Category:Olympic swimmers for Canada
Category:Sportspeople from Moose Jaw
Category:Swimmers at the 1934 British Empire Games
Category:Swimmers at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Category:Swimmers at the 1938 British Empire Games
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming
Category:Medallists at the 1934 British Empire Games