Nancy Riach

NANCY RIACH d1947. Scottish swimmer who in 1945 held 28 British and Scottish records in various swimming disciplines and was considered one of the greatest of her generation. She won the 100 metres freestyle title in the World Student Games in Paris in 1947. She regularly attended church and sang in the choir. Due to her religious convictions, she refused to compete in swimming tournaments on Sundays. While competing at the European Swimming Championships in Monte Carlo she contracted polio. Against doctors' advice she continued to race and was pulled unconscious from the pool at the end of the 100 yards freestyle event. She never regained consciousness. She died aged just 20 on the morning of 15th September 1947, before her parents arrived from Scotland. She was buried in her swimming costume in Airdrie on 20th September 1947. It was estimated more than 10,000 people attended the funeral processions to New Monkland Cemetery