The Cavill family of Australia is known for its significant contributions to the development of the sport of swimming.[1][2]
Prominent family members in the sport include Frederick Cavill (1839–1927),[3] sons Ernest Cavill (1868–1935),[4] Charles Claude Cavill (1870–1897),[5] Percy Frederick Cavill (1875–1940),[6] Arthur Rowland Channel (Tums) Cavill (1877–1914),[5][7] who is credited by sports journalist W.F. Corbett with originating the Australian crawl stroke, which now predominates in "freestyle" swimming races; and Sydney St. Leonards Cavill ("Sid") (1881–1945),[8] was one of the originators of the butterfly arm stroke.[9] Youngest son Richmond (Dick) Theophilus Cavill (1884–1938)[3] was the first to use the crawl in a competition, winning 100 yards State championship in 1899; and in England, in 1902, he was the first to swim 100 yards in under a minute.[10]
Six members of the family were jointly inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1970.[11]
The three daughters, Madeline, Fredda and Alice Cavill[12] were all accomplished swimmers[13][14] and swimming instructors.[15]
Fredda Cavill's son Dick Eve won gold at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the plain high diving, becoming the first Australian Olympic diver to win gold.[15]
Frederick Cavill
editCavill was a sailor, and was awarded three lifesaving medals by the Royal Humane Society. He was also an apprentice on the HMY Fairy and was England's fastest man at swimming 500 yards. As he got older, he became a swimming coach and the Kensington Swimming Baths owner, where he coached Princess Mary to swim.[16] He later moved to Australia and became one of the first people to swim and develop the front crawl.[17]
Channel crossing attempts
editFirst attempt
editIn August 1876, around a year after Matthew Webb completed the first successful crossing of the English Channel, Cavill attempted his own crossing. Webb accompanied Cavill for the swim, and Cavill used many of Webb's techniques, such as using porpoise oil and the captain George Toms. Cavill started fast, but soon ran into multiple jellyfish which caused him to feel nauseous. After consuming a large amount of Whiskey, Cavill was eventually pulled out after 10 hours of swimming. He was disorientated and had a weak pulse.[18]
Webb criticized Cavill for using the faster side stroke rather than the older breaststroke, and for wearing a jersey. Webb also said that Cavill had only made it halfway across, which made Cavill angry and determined to give it another attempt.[19]
Second attempt
editIn July 1877, Cavill attempted it a second time, this time starting in Cap Gris Nez, France and attempting to swim to Dover, England. Cavill claimed to have completed the crossing ten hours faster than Webb, but was discredited when his signed witness Mr. Gammon was discovered to have never existed. Cavill never admitted to lying, but challenged Webb to a race across the channel, which he declined.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The Royal Family of Swimming Archived 2012-11-02 at the Wayback Machine, Reader's Digest (Australian edition), Retrieved 21 September 2012
- ^ Allen, Geoff (26 March 1961). The saga of the swimming Cavills, The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ a b Williams, J.G. "Cavill, Frederick (1839–1927)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "Ernie Cavill Passes". Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Australia. 29 May 1935. p. 12.
- ^ a b Osmond, Gary (2009). "Forgetting Charlie and Tums Cavill: social memory and Australian swimming history". Journal of Australian Studies. 33 (1): 93–107. doi:10.1080/14443050802672569. S2CID 144775663.
- ^ "Death entry for Percy F Cavell [sic]". FamilySearch. Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959. 31 December 1940. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
St Matthews Parish. Died November 17th 1940. European. Male.
- ^ (2 March 1914). Cavill Freezes While Swimming: Champion Swimmer Was Unable to Stand Shock of Puget Sound Water, Spokane Daily Chronicle
- ^ (5 May 1945). Sid Cavill Dies, Reading Eagle
- ^ "The Cavill Family". ISHOF. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Cavill, Richmond Theophilus (Dick) (1884–1938)". Cavill, Richmond Theophilus (Dick) (1884 - 1938) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Adbonline.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ The Cavill Family (AUS) - 1970 Honor Contributors Archived 2007-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, International Swimming Hall of Fame website, Retrieved 21 September 2012
- ^ Osmond, Gary (2012). "Swimming Her Own Course: Agency in the Professional Swimming Career of Alice Cavill". The International Journal of the History of Sport. 29 (3): 385–402. doi:10.1080/09523367.2012.659727. S2CID 143975048.
- ^ "The Cavill Family". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 February 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "The Cavill Family". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 December 1898. p. 8. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Dick Eve". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Watson 2001, p. 167.
- ^ Watson 2001, p. 168.
- ^ Watson 2001, pp. 168–169.
- ^ Watson 2001, p. 169.
- ^ Watson 2001, pp. 169–170.
Sources
edit- Watson, Kathy (2001). The crossing: the glorious tragedy of the first man to swim the English channel. 375 Hudson Street, New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 1-58542-109-X.
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