Paul RADMILOVIC

Welsh-born of a Croatian father and an Irish mother, Paul Radmilovic competed for Britain in the Olympic Games a record six times and captained the water polo team four times. Possibly his finest moment in an outstanding Olympic water polo career came when he scored the winning goal against Belgium three minutes from time in the 1920 final. He made his Olympic debut in 1906 when he reached the final of both the 100 metre and 400 metre freestyle and his final appearance was as a 42-year-old in 1928 as a member of the water polo team. “Raddy” spent most of his life in Weston-Super-Mare where he represented the local club both at swimming and water polo. Although he won nine ASA freestyle titles and his international swimming career lasted an incredible 30 years, it was as a water polo player that he received recognition and in 1967 he became only the second Briton to be inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida. He was also a scratch golfer and a talented soccer player and he was for many years, the licensee of the Imperial Hotel in Weston-Super-Mare. After his death, his son took over the license and continued to display his father’s impressive collection of trophies.