Early Life
Henry Taylor was born in Hollinwood in Oldham, Lancashire, on 17 March 1885 to James, a coal miner, and Elizabeth Taylor. Henry's parents died when he was young and he was raised by his older brother, Bill. Taylor learned to swim in the Hollinwood Canal, and practised in Alexandra Park's boating lake. At the age of seven Taylor swam in his first race.
Bill became his coach and Henry trained in the Oldham Baths and, from 1894, in the Chadderton Baths. During this time he continued to train in the canal and when he got a job at a cotton mill, he spent his lunch times swimming in the canal. At 5' 5'' (1.65 m) and weighing 10 stone 6 pounds (66 kg), he wore a hand-woven silk swimming costume weighing about an ounce.
Read more about this topic: Henry Taylor (swimmer)
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or life:
“The conviction that the best way to prepare children for a harsh, rapidly changing world is to introduce formal instruction at an early age is wrong. There is simply no evidence to support it, and considerable evidence against it. Starting children early academically has not worked in the past and is not working now.”
—David Elkind (20th century)
““Life is a dangerous adventure,” says the American; and he is half right: life is dangerous, but it’s not an adventure.”
—José Bergamín (1895–1983)