Irene Steer (10 August 1889 – 18 April 1977) was a Welshfreestyleswimmer.[1] Steer started as a breaststroke swimmer, but in 1908–1909 changed to crawl.[2][3] From 1907 until 1913, she held the Welsh championship unbeaten every year and was described in reports of the races as a "beautiful", "neat" and the "most graceful swimmer". She held jointly the world record for 100m in 1910, 1912 and 1913.[4]
In 1912, the first year that women were allowed to compete in swimming in the Olympics, Steer won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay, swimming the final, anchor leg, but failed to reach the final of the individual100 m race.[2][5] She had had to make her own way to the Olympics venue in Stockholm and was one of the fewer than 50 women among the 2,500 athletes taking part.[4]
After retiring from competitions she married William Nicholson, director and chairman ofCardiff City F.C. They had three daughters and one son.[2][6]
In September 2025 aPurple Plaque was installed in Roath Park Lake to mark her Olympic swimming achievement.[4]
She is one of only six Welsh women who have won Olympic gold medals before 2026, the others beingNicole Cooke (cycling, 2008),Jade Jones (taekwondo, 2012, 2016),Hannah Mills (sailing 2016, 2020),Elinor Barker (cycling, 2016) andLauren Price (boxing, 2020).
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