Mary T. Meagher

In 1981, Mary T. Meagher established world records in the 200 fly (2:05.96) and the 100 fly (57.93) at the U.S. Long Course National Championships in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, both of which lasted nearly two decades. Her 200 fly time was rated as the fifth-greatest single event performance of all time by Sports Illustrated magazine. Marys 100m record was broken by Jenny Thompson (U.S.A.) in 1999 and her 200m record fell to Susie ONeill (Australia) a year later.

Video from International Swimming Hall of Fame Archive
http://www.ishof.org/video_archive/swimming/maryt_meagher.htm

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Mary
• T.
• Meagher

[kanzyani7]

The smoothness and effortless beauty of her stroke is mesmerising, and a joy to watch. I cannot think of any other fly swimmer, male or female, who looks as good as Mary T. In my opinion, even some of the greats, past and present (Gross, De Bruin, O'Neill, Hyman, Phelps, et., al) do not have Mary T's dolphin-like stroke.

[seawolvesolivia]

@Parker528 lol wow thats amazing!

[Parker528]

@Parker528 Only other female flyer who could approach that endurance of very long distance fly sets in practice, from what I know, is prolly Trina Radke. Of course, swimming for Shouldberg at GA helps, but when she did a 10,000 fly straight set at an olympic hopeful training camp in Hawaii in late Nov '87, MTM was even impressed; no wonder Trina came back so strong at 88 trials to make the team!!!

[Parker528]

@seawolvesolivia OMG so funny...She does have a kid sis, Peggy, who won 200 free at indoor Jr's in mid 80's. One thing about our "T". I recall in an article when asked about how she was so great at fly; her reply was the broader shoulders equally in-line w/ or as broad as the hips, allowing for that snap-like action she was known for. But also, her infamous tolerance to pain over long distances with steady splits in practice, was 2nd to none...

[seawolvesolivia]

@Parker528 lol i was joking they are these kids on my swim teem and actually my friend typed that cause alexanders name is really alex lol!

[Parker528]

@seawolvesolivia she might be has MANY siblings even has an older sister ALSO named Mary!

[Parker528]

@Ineddiblehulk Look online here for the womens 400 medley relay at LA Olympics and watch her fly leg  she goes a 58.04 and looks very effortless

[sunshineyellow15]

why doesnt she have googles on?

[Ineddiblehulk]

Thanks so much for this! I have known of Mary's records since the early 90's (as an Aussie and obviously an O'neil fan) but never seen her swim. He stroke looks effortless, as opposed to Susie's that was all guts and strength. To go 205.96 with no goggles, crappy pool and old bathers.... amazing.

[bordereye]

If Mary T. Meagher was in her prime today, taking advantage of 30 years of massive technical and technological improvements, she would swim in 1:59.