Wilkie turned a star of British swimming after surging to Olympic gold – and a brand new world file by greater than three seconds – within the Males’s 200m Breaststroke on the 1976 Montreal Video games, in addition to claiming silver within the 100m occasion. His Olympic title was the primary time a British man had received a gold within the pool in practically seven a long time, and paved the best way for what has turn out to be a legacy of breaststroke swimming on this nation.
He had beforehand received 200m Breaststroke silver on the 1972 Olympics, whereas his stellar profession included quite a few world titles – a 100m-200m golden double on the 1975 World Championships among the many highlights.
David additionally received European titles and a number of Commonwealth golds for Scotland, along with his achievements seeing him awarded an MBE in 1977.
Paying tribute to Wilkie, Aquatics GB CEO Drew Barrand stated: “David was one of many first British swimming icons – his title synonymous with our sport. An inspiration to many, he captured the hearts and minds of the nation. He will likely be drastically missed by all the aquatics neighborhood and our ideas go to his household and associates at this tough time.”
On Wednesday (twenty second Might), David’s household launched a press release, saying: “It’s with nice disappointment that the household of David Wilkie MBE announce that he died peacefully surrounded by his household this morning, following his courageous battle with most cancers.”
Scottish Swimming Nationwide Coach Ian Wright stated: “David was one of the crucial excellent trailblazers for swimming in Scotland and I’m very sorry to listen to of his passing. As a former coach at Warrender and Nationwide Coach for Scotland, I had the privilege of assembly David on a number of events and his ardour for swimming has by no means wavered. His world file gold medal profitable swim on the 1976 Olympics nonetheless stands as one of many biggest performances of all time.
“His path to medal success, via a Scottish Membership, continues to encourage our athletes and I sincerely hope his household takes nice consolation from the continued success of our sport and the half David performed in that.”
Workforce Scotland added on Twitter: “We’re deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of one among Scotland’s sporting greats in David Wilkie. From Commonwealth bronze age 16 in entrance of a house crowd, to Olympic glory in 1976, he was an inspiration to so many. Our ideas are along with his household and associates right now.”