Irene Catherine Pirie-Milton (June 7, 1914 – December 1998), née Irene Catherine Pirie, was a Canadian champion

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 competed internationally in

freestyle Freestyle may refer to: Brands * Reebok Freestyle, a women's athletic shoe * Ford Freestyle, an SUV automobile * Coca-Cola Freestyle, a vending machine * ICD Freestyle, a paintball marker * Abbott FreeStyle, a blood glucose monitor by Abbott La ...

events. At the

1930 British Empire Games The 1930 British Empire Games were the inaugural edition of what now is known as the Commonwealth Games, and were held in Hamilton, Ontario, from 16 to 23 August 1930. The games were organized by '' Hamilton Spectator'' sportswriter Bobby Robins ...

in Hamilton, Ontario, she was a member of the Canadian team which won the silver medal in the 4×100-yard freestyle relay event. At the

1934 British Empire Games The 1934 British Empire Games were the second edition of what is now known as the Commonwealth Games, held in England, from 4–11 August 1934. The host city was London, with the main venue at Wembley Park, although the track cycling events wer ...

in London, she won a gold medal with the Canadian team in the 4×100-yard relay competition. She also won a silver medal in the 100-yard freestyle and a bronze medal in the 440 yard freestyle. At the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held dur ...

in Los Angeles, she was a member of the Canadian team which finished fourth in the women's 4×100-metre freestyle relay. She also participated in the 100-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle, but in both she was eliminated in the first round. Four years later at the

1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics ( German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad ( German: ''Spiele der XI. Olympiade'') and commonly known as Berlin 1936 or the Nazi Olympics, were an international multi- ...

in Berlin, Germany, she was on the Canadian team that finished fourth in the 4×100 metre freestyle relay. Individually, she competed in the first round of the 100-metre freestyle event, but did not advance. Pirie was a sister of Canadian swimmer

Bob Pirie Robert Charles Pirie (April 30, 1916 – January 22, 1984) was a Canadian freestyle swimmer, who competed internationally during the 1930s. Background Pirie was unanimously selected as the Lou Marsh Trophy winner for 1939, recognizing Canada ...

, the wife of British swimmer and water polo player Frederick Milton, and the mother of British swimmer Hamilton Milton. She was inducted into the

Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame is an honour roll of the top Canadian Olympic athletes, teams, coaches, and builders (officials, administrators, and volunteers). It was established in 1949. Selections are made by a committee appointed by the Canad ...

in 1975. In Ontario, the Irene Pirie Trophy is awarded by Swim Ontario to the female swimmer of the year selected by the Ontario Swimming Coaches Association; the male swimmer of the year is awarded the Bob Pirie Trophy.Bob and Irene Pirie Trophy
swimontario.com

References

1914 births 1998 deaths Canadian female freestyle swimmers Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Canada Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Canada Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Canada Olympic swimmers for Canada Swimmers from Toronto Swimmers at the 1932 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1930 British Empire Games Swimmers at the 1936 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1934 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming Medallists at the 1930 British Empire Games Medallists at the 1934 British Empire Games {{Canada-swimming-bio-stub