Irene Steer, hailing from Cardiff, entered the annals of sports history by winning a gold medal at the 1912 Olympics held in Stockholm. At just 23 years old, Steer became the first among only seven Welsh women to achieve such an honor. She participated in the 4x100m freestyle relay, where she swam the crucial anchor leg, solidifying her team’s victory in a world record time of five minutes and 52.8 seconds on July 15, 1912.
Prior to her Olympic success, Steer dominated Welsh swimming from 1907 to 1913, securing the Welsh championship title each year. Reports from that era celebrated her as a “beautiful” and “neat” swimmer, often remarking on her graceful technique.
The next Welsh woman to win Olympic gold wouldn’t come for another 96 years, when cyclist Nicole Cooke achieved the feat. Catrin Stevens, a historian and sports project manager for Women’s Archive Wales, has been actively working on a project that aims to bring attention to forgotten women in sports. She shared her thoughts on the significance of Steer’s accomplishments, emphasizing the need to inspire the next generation: “We know about men in sports, names roll off the tongue, but a lot of women people don’t even know their names.” Stevens regards Steer as a pioneer who held the world record for the 100m in 1910, 1912, and 1913.
Fergus Feeney, chief executive of Swim Wales, echoed the sentiment that Steer was “ahead of her time.” He noted the contrast between the 2,500 competitors at the Stockholm Olympics, of which fewer than 50 were women. Steer’s journey from Cardiff to represent Great Britain in 1912 was a revolutionary act during an era when women were still denied the right to vote, a situation that wouldn’t change until 1928. Feeney pointed out the remarkable independence Steer displayed, packing her own swim gear and traveling without the extensive support modern athletes receive.
Sue Essex from Purple Plaques Wales praised Steer as a “truly remarkable woman” and advocated for the installation of a plaque at Roath Lake, ensuring her legacy is visible to visitors. Jane Hutt, the Welsh government’s cabinet secretary for social justice, added that Steer’s story—and the stories of others recognized by the Purple Plaques campaign—serve as reminders that with appropriate support, women and girls can achieve extraordinary feats. “We need to ensure every woman’s contribution is recognized and remembered,” Hutt stated.
