Olympic archive: Sharron Davies (1977)
Swimmer Sharron Davies had already been identified as a medal prospect for the 1980 Moscow Olympics when ITN went to meet her and her trainer at Crystal Palace in 1977.
No sooner had the dust settled at the end of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, before ITN was on the hunt to identify potential medal winners for the 1980 games in Moscow, writes Ian Searcey.
In August 1977, Joan Thirkettle visited the pool at Crystal Palace to interview 14-year-old swimming prodigy Sharron Davies. Davies had been selected and competed unsuccessfully at Montreal, but her inclusion in the team at the tender age of 13 brought her to public attention.
When the ITN team tracked her down, she was preparing for the 1977 European Championships in Sweden, where she won two bronze medals.
Davies talks about her rigorous training regime and what it means for her social life. She regrets missing school discos for training, but claims the thrill of winning makes the sacrifice worthwhile. She makes it clear her long-term aim is to win a gold medal at Moscow.
Her team coach, meanwhile, admits he likes to “dream gold medals” and recognises Davies as “a very good prospect”.
Sharron Davies went on to win two gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games – but had to settle for silver in the 400m medley in Moscow.
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