Bob McGregor

Robert Bilsand McGregor, MBE (born 3 April 1944), nicknamed the "Falkirk Flyer", is a Scottish former competitive swimmer.

For the Scottish footballer, see Bob McGregor (footballer).

Bob McGregor
MBE
McGregor in 1966
Personal information
Full nameRobert Bilsand McGregor
Nickname(s)"Bob", "Bobby", "The Falkirk Flyer"
Born (1944-04-03) 3 April 1944
Falkirk
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb; 12 st 8 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubChinook Aquatic Club
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1964 Tokyo 100 m freestyle
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1966 Utrecht 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1962 Leipzig 4×100 m freestyle
Universiade
Silver medal – second place 1967 Tokyo 100 m freestyle
Representing  Scotland
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 1966 Kingston 110 yd freestyle

Swimming career

He competed in eight events at the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. He won a silver medal in the 100-metre freestyle in 1964, and finished fourth in the 100-metre freestyle and 4×100-metre freestyle relay in 1968.[1] He was a second favourite for the 1963 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. In 2002 he was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.[2] Olympic selectors could not believe that he trained in a 25-metre pool in Falkirk when the selectors arrived to critique him prior to the Tokyo Olympics.

McGregor competed at the 1962 and 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal on each occasion in the 110-yard freestyle.[3]

He is a six times winner of the British Championship in 100 metres freestyle (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968 and 1968). In the 1963 event he set a world record in the heats (54.4 sec) and the final (54.1 sec).[4] He also won the 1963 200 metres freestyle.[5][6][7][8][9]

Personal life

He retired from swimming in 1968 and now works as an architect in Glasgow. He lives in Helensburgh with his wife and family.[2] His father, David McGregor, was an Olympic water polo player.[1]

See also

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bobby McGregor". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016.
  2. "Bob McGregor, MBE". Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  3. "Commonwealth Games Federation Athlete Search". Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  4. "From Our Swimming Correspondent. "Swimming Championships." Times, 30 Aug. 1963, p. 4". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 30 August 1963. p. 4.
  5. ""Strong British Challenge To Australian Swimmers." Times, 17 Sept. 1962, p. 4". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 17 September 1962. p. 4.
  6. "From Our Swimming Correspondent. "World's Fastest Can Swim Faster Still." Times, 2 Sept. 1963, p. 3". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 2 September 1963. p. 3.
  7. "From Our Swimming Correspondent. "Meagre Swimming Team For Tokyo." Times, 24 Aug. 1964, p. 3". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 24 August 1964. p. 3.
  8. ""McGregor's Record." Times, 12 Sept. 1966, p. 6". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 12 September 1966. p. 6.
  9. ""Four new caps." Times, 14 Aug. 1967, p. 12". The Times. Times Digital Archive. 14 August 1967. p. 12.
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