Peter Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Peter Askin Reynolds was an Australia
n freestyle
and medley
swimmer of the 1960s, who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
. Although he set multiple world records, Reynolds peaked between Olympics and was unable to capture an individual medal at Olympic level.
Making his international debut at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Reynolds reached the final of the 200m backstroke, where he finished last to American
Jed Graef
, who won in a world record time. He combined with Ian O'Brien
, Kevin Berry
and David Dickson
to claim bronze in the 4x100m medley relay, behind the United States
and Germany
.
At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston
, Jamaica
, Reynolds was one of the dominant swimmers, winning four gold medals, three of them individually. He collected gold in the 110yd and 220yd backstroke and the 400yd individual medley, beating Canadian
Ralph Hutton
, setting world records in the latter two events.
Reynolds then combined with Dickson, Michael Wenden
and Bob Windle
to set a world record in the 4x220yd freestyle. Another gold in the 4x110yd medley relay was lost after Reynolds, O'Brien, Wenden and Graham Dunn were disqualified after a careless early changeover; they had touched the wall far in front of the rest of the field.
This was Reynolds' final appearance on the international scene. Although he increased his tally of Australian Championships to 14 the following year, he failed to gain selection for the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
and medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
swimmer of the 1960s, who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Although he set multiple world records, Reynolds peaked between Olympics and was unable to capture an individual medal at Olympic level.
Making his international debut at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Reynolds reached the final of the 200m backstroke, where he finished last to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Jed Graef
Jed Graef
Jed Graef is an American swimmer and Olympic champion. He won a gold medal in the 200 metre backstroke at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo....
, who won in a world record time. He combined with Ian O'Brien
Ian O'Brien
Ian Lovett O'Brien is a former Australian breaststroke swimmer of the 1960s, who won the 200 metre breaststroke at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in world record time...
, Kevin Berry
Kevin Berry
Kevin John Berry OAM was an Australian butterfly swimmer of the 1960s who won the gold medal in the 200 m butterfly at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He set twelve world records in his career...
and David Dickson
David Dickson (swimmer)
David Dickson was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won three bronze medals in freestyle and medley relay events at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Rome and Tokyo respectively.-1960 Summer Olympics:Dickson was selected to make his international debut at...
to claim bronze in the 4x100m medley relay, behind the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, Reynolds was one of the dominant swimmers, winning four gold medals, three of them individually. He collected gold in the 110yd and 220yd backstroke and the 400yd individual medley, beating Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Ralph Hutton
Ralph Hutton
Ralph Hutton is a former Canadian swimmer. Hutton won a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.-References:* , from http://www.sports-reference.com/; retrieved 2009-11-28....
, setting world records in the latter two events.
Reynolds then combined with Dickson, Michael Wenden
Michael Wenden
Michael Vincent Wenden AM MBE was a champion swimmer who represented Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics...
and Bob Windle
Bob Windle
Robert George "Bob" Windle is a former Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won four Olympic medals, including an individual gold medal...
to set a world record in the 4x220yd freestyle. Another gold in the 4x110yd medley relay was lost after Reynolds, O'Brien, Wenden and Graham Dunn were disqualified after a careless early changeover; they had touched the wall far in front of the rest of the field.
This was Reynolds' final appearance on the international scene. Although he increased his tally of Australian Championships to 14 the following year, he failed to gain selection for the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.