Shirley Ascott

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Black and white photo of a woman holding a canoe paddle.
Ascott in 1952.

Shirley Ascott (10 December 1930 – 29 December 1995) was a British canoe sprinter who competed in the early 1950s. She competed in the K-1 500 m event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, but was eliminated in the heats.

Biography[edit]

Ascott was from Hounslow, Middlesex. During the Second World War, she was evacuated, and studied at Fleetwood Grammar School.[1] She worked in an aircraft factory, and started canoeing in 1950.[1] In 1952, Ascott was one of two British women who attempted to qualify for the 1952 Summer Olympics;[2] after winning the trial event, she was selected for the Games.[1] At the Games, she was eliminated in the heats.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Women Canoeists". The Guardian. 23 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "She hopes to paddle for Britain". Evening Standard. London. 12 April 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 27 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Shirley Ascott Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.