Bob Leivers

Robert Thomas Hanford Leivers (27 December 1914 28 August 1964) was an English freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was born in Nottingham and died in Chelsea, London.

Bob Leivers
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1938 Sydney 1500 yd freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1938 Sydney 4×220 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1934 London 4×200 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1938 Sydney 400 yd freestyle
Representing  Great Britain
European Championships (LC)
Silver medal – second place 1938 London 1500 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1938 London 4×200 m freestyle

In 1932 he finished fifth with the British relay team in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay event. He also participated in the 400 metre freestyle competition was eliminated in the first round.

Four years later he was a member of the British relay team which finished sixth in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay contest. He also finished sixth in the 1500 metre freestyle event and seventh in the 400 metre freestyle competition.

At the British Empire Games in 1934 he won a silver medal as part of the English team in the 2×220 yards relay race. In 1938 he won the 1500 yards contest and finished second in the 400 yards event and as member of the English relay team he won his second gold medal.

During his athletic years he was famous for his friendly rivalry with fellow Potteries swimmer Norman Wainwright; they both trained at Longton Swimming Baths, which have now been demolished.

Bob lived in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire where he ran the family business, Leivers Butchers with shops in Longton, Staffordshire and Meir, Staffordshire. He married Winifred May Leivers (née Degg) and fathered two children; Patricia Ann McLaughlin (née Leivers) and Robert Thomas Hanford Leivers.

See also

  • Bob Leivers at World Aquatics
  • Bob Leivers at Olympedia
  • Bob Leivers at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bob Leivers". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  • "In the Swim" (1934), British Pathé newsreel of Bob Leivers swimming at Winsford, Cheshire
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