Bob Leivers

Wikipedia

Bob Leivers
Personal information
NationalityBritish (English)
Born(1914-12-27)27 December 1914
Nottingham, England
Died28 August 1964(1964-08-28) (aged 49)
Sport
SportSwimming
ClubLongton Swimming Club
Medal record
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place1938 Sydney1500 yd freestyle
Gold medal – first place1938 Sydney4×220 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place1934 London4×200 yd freestyle
Silver medal – second place1938 Sydney400 yd freestyle
Representing  Great Britain
European Championships (LC)
Silver medal – second place1938 London1500 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place1938 London4×200 m freestyle

Robert Thomas Hanford Leivers (27 December 1914 28 August 1964) was an English freestyle swimmer who competed for Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics and in the 1936 Summer Olympics.[1]

Biography

Leivers was born in Nottingham, England and swam for Longton Swimming Club in Stoke-on-Trent.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[3] Four years later at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Australia, 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.[4]

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. He died in Chelsea, London.[2]

References

  1. "Bob Leivers". Sports-Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Biographical information". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  3. "Comonwealth Games Medallists - Swimming and Diving (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  4. "Medal Standings Sydney 1938". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2025.

See also