British swimmer, Olympic gold medallist, former world record-holder
She was awarded the MBE in the 2006 Queens Birthday Honours List for her services to sports. She was a surprise winner of the 100 meters backstroke at the Melbourne Summer Olympics in 1956. She was the first British woman to win an Olympic gold medal for 32 years and Britains first swimming gold medalist since 1924..
Mother of daughter, Alison Rowley Heeks and Keith Rowley. She was married for twenty years to Patrick Rowley.
