Brian Brinkley (born 28 December 1953) is an English former competitive

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

who represented Great Britain in the Olympic Games, FINA world championships and European championships, and England in the Commonwealth Games, during the 1970s. During his elite swimming career, he won thirteen medals in major international swimming championships.

Swimming career

At the

1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...

in Munich, West Germany, Brinkley qualified to compete in six events: the 100-, 200-, 400- and 1500-metre freestyle events, the 200-metre butterfly, and the 4x200-metre freestyle relay. His best performances were fourth in the 400-metre freestyle final, and eighth as a member of the British men's team in the 4x200-metre freestyle relay.Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes
Brian Brinkley
Retrieved 31 May 2015. Brinkley was a member of the British national team at the 1974 European Aquatics Championships in Vienna, winning a pair of silver medals in the men's 200-metre butterfly and as a member of the British team in the 4x100-metre medley relay. When Christchurch, New Zealand hosted the

1974 British Commonwealth Games The 1974 British Commonwealth Games () were held in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. The event was officially named "the friendly games". T ...

, he swam for England in six events, winning medals in all of them. He won a gold medal for his first-place performance in the 200-metre butterfly, and two silver medals for finishing second in the 200-metre and 400-metre individual medley events. He was also a member of all three of England's relay teams, winning a silver in the 4x200-metre freestyle, and bronzes in the 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley. At the

1975 World Aquatics Championships The 1975 World Aquatics Championships was held in Cali, Colombia, between July 19 and July 27, with 682 participating athletes. Medal table Medal summary Diving ;Men ;Women Swimming ;Men ;Women Synchronised swimming Water pol ...

, he won a silver medal with the British men in the 4x200-metre freestyle relay, and three bronze medals in the 200-metre freestyle, 200-metre butterfly, and 4x100-metre medley relay. He was appointed MBE in the

1976 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1976 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1976 to celebra ...

. A year later in Montreal, Quebec, at the

1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Montreal 1976 (), were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal ...

, Brinkley competed in four events. He was a member of the fourth-place British team in the men's 4x100-metre medley relay, and won a bronze medal with the third-place British men in the 4x200-metre freestyle relay. In individual competition, he advanced to the event final of the 200-metre butterfly and came sixth. He also swam in the preliminary heats of the 200-metre freestyle but did not advance. He won the 1974 ASA National Championship 100 metres freestyle title, was a five times winner of the 200 metres freestyle (1971–1975) and a four times winner of the 400 metres freestyle in (1971-1974). He also won the 1972 ASA British National 1500 metres freestyle title and the 200 metres butterfly title in 1972, 1973 and 1974.

Coaching

Later, while coaching at Peterborough (his home town), he coached channel swimmers and was in a successful relay channel team in 1987

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brinkley, Brian 1953 births Living people Sportspeople from Peterborough European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming English male butterfly swimmers British male butterfly swimmers English male freestyle swimmers British male freestyle swimmers Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain Olympic bronze medalists in swimming Olympic swimmers for Great Britain Swimmers at the 1972 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1976 Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Swimmers at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Commonwealth Games silver medallists in swimming Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in swimming Members of the Order of the British Empire Medallists at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games

Swimming career

Coaching

See also

References