John Martin-Dye, a dual Olympian and double international at swimming and water polo, has died, aged 82. He played his entire polo career for Penguin during a very successful period for the club, including the first decade of the former men’s National League, and in more recent years was a member of Watford.
John enjoyed a glittering swimming career, including the 1960 and 1964 Olympics.
Successes included a silver medal in the 4 × 100m freestyle relay at the 1962 European Aquatics Championships; fourth place in the 4 × 200m relay at the 1960 Olympics (in what was then a new European record); bronze for England in 440 yds and 880 yards freestyle relays at the 1962 Empire and Commonwealth Games in Australia; another Empire Games relay bronze in 1966.
He excelled at ASA Championships, winning 110 yards, 220 yards and 440 yards freestyle titles in 1961; he also won the 440 yards in 1960 and 1963 as well as the mile event in 1963.
His son Graham, also an ex-GB water polo international, says: “John was an amazing father! His ethic in life was inspirational. He always worked hard to achieve anything, and never gave up. He lived life and travelled the world. He was always there for me and supported me in anything I wanted to do. He gave so much of his time back to sport and the community.”
Photo: A young John Martin-Dye with some of his trophies.
To see John in action at the 1965 West European Championships at Crystal Palace, go to https://www.britishpathe.com/video/britain-beat-spain
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