‘It’s going to be painful’ – the son trying to match father’s world record

David Wilkie, a celebrated Olympian from the 1970s, holds a place in history as the first British man to win Olympic gold in the pool in 68 years. His 200m breaststroke triumph at the 1976 Montreal Games, along with a silver in the 100m event, remains a defining moment for British swimming. Now, 50 years later, his son Adam Wilkie is attempting to break that legacy—literally—by aiming to replicate his father’s record time of two minutes 15.11 seconds.

A personal challenge with a legacy

Adam, a 33-year-old marketing manager, has embarked on this quest not just for athletic achievement but to honor his father’s memory. David passed away from cancer in 2024, and Adam’s effort is part of a charitable campaign to keep his father’s spirit alive. “The closest I get to any kind of sport at work is a standing desk,” Adam admits, highlighting the contrast between his professional life and the grueling nature of the challenge.

“He would think I am mad because he knows how hard it was,” Adam says. “He knows how hard swimming is and how much work he put in to get to that time. But I think he would be proud that his son is trying to do something to remember him.”

The record time in question, set by David in 1976, once ranked among the top five at the British Championships. Though the world record has since been improved by about 10 seconds, Adam believes his father’s mark still holds significant value. “Most people who know swimming will be like, ‘he has no chance,’ ” he says, acknowledging the odds. “But I want to try.”

Training and memories

Adam has sacrificed his career to train full-time under a professional coach, gaining access to elite facilities and sport science resources at Aquatics GB. Despite this, he admits he was once terrified of the deep end of the pool. “It’s going to be all-encompassing. It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he explains. “There’ll be moments where I sit on the side of the pool and wonder: ‘Why the hell did I decide to do this?'”

Revisiting his father’s career has deepened Adam’s connection to his legacy. David retired at 22, long before Adam was born, so the challenge also serves as a way to rediscover parts of his father’s life. “I’m hoping I’ve got a lot of his swimming genes,” Adam says. “We’ll see as the year unfolds.”

A journey across water

As part of the effort, Adam plans to visit pools where his father trained, including locations in Sri Lanka, Scotland, Miami, and Montreal. These trips are not only about proximity to the sport but also about symbolizing the global reach of his father’s achievements. He will also raise funds for Sports Aid, an organization supporting young athletes with financial barriers to their dreams.

“I want this story to demonstrate how amazing swimmers are, how hard this sport is, and how much effort, time, and work these guys and girls put in to get to where they are,” Adam adds. “And I want to demonstrate how good my dad was.”

Wilkie’s legacy extends beyond the pool. Recognized as one of Britain’s greatest Olympians, his name is often paired with icons like Mark Spitz. For Adam, the challenge is as much about personal growth as it is about honoring the past. “It’s going to be incredibly painful at points,” he says. “But it’s about paying homage to my father and testing myself against the yardstick of the greatest man I knew.”