James Muirhead (swimmer)

James Muirhead
Personal information
Born (1953-09-21) 21 September 1953 (age 71)
Died17 October 2021(2021-10-17) (aged 68)
Sport
Country Great Britain
SportParalympic swimming
Medal record
Paralympic Games
Swimming
Gold medal – first place 1976 Toronto Men's 100 m Butterfly A
Gold medal – first place 1976 Toronto Men's 4x100 m Individual Medley A
Gold medal – first place 1980 Arnhem Men's 100 m Freestyle A
Gold medal – first place 1980 Arnhem Men's 100 m Backstroke A
Gold medal – first place 1984 Stoke Mandeville
/ New York 		Men's 100 m Butterfly B1
Silver medal – second place 1976 Toronto Men's 100 m Freestyle A
Silver medal – second place 1976 Toronto Men's 100 m Backstroke A
Silver medal – second place 1980 Arnhem Men's 100 m Butterfly A
Silver medal – second place 1980 Arnhem Men's 4x100 m Individual Medley A
Silver medal – second place 1984 Stoke Mandeville
/ New York 		Men's 100 m Freestyle B1
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Stoke Mandeville
/ New York 		Men's 400 m Freestyle B1
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Stoke Mandeville
/ New York 		Men's 100 m Backstroke B1
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Stoke Mandeville
/ New York 		Men's 200 m Individual Medley B1

James Muirhead (21 September 1953 - 17 October 2021) was a British Paralympic swimmer who won thirteen medals at the Summer Paralympic Games.[1] His Paralympic debut was at the 1976 Summer Paralympics where he won two gold medals and two silvers.[2] Muirhead repeated that feat in Arnhem for the 1980 Games, albeit in different events.[3] He returned from the 1984 Summer Paralympics with a fifth gold, another silver, and three bronze medals.[4]

Muirhead lost his sight at age 17. He qualified and worked as a physiotherapist.[1]

He died of cancer in October 2021. He is still the most decorated Scottish paralympic swimmer of all time.

References

  1. ^ a b "James Muirhead". British Paralympic Association. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  2. ^ "IPC Historical Results Archive - Toronto 1976 - Swimming". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  3. ^ "IPC Historical Results Archive - Arnhem 1980 - Swimming". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Swimming at the Stoke Mandeville & New York 1984 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 23 February 2018.