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Ian Black - swimming record breaker 1958

© EMPICS

The BBC Sports Personality award was first presented in 1954, Chris Chataway and Gordon Pirie, both from the world of athletics, winning in 1954 and 1955 respectively. The 1956 winner was a cricketer; Jim Laker's wicket taking in the Ashes Test against Australia guaranteed him the award. It was the turn of golf to provide the champion in 1957 when, at 44, Dia Rees captured the BBC title. Rees was the victorious Ryder Cup Captain who brought the Cup back to Britain after an absence of 22 years.

In 1958, the winner would be 27 years younger than his predecessor and be the first Scot to win the award. 1958 was a memorable year for swimmer Ian Black.

The 1958 European Championships were held in Budapest, the second time the city had hosted the event. Held every two years in late spring/early summer, the championships always attracted the best from across the continent. Ian Black sparkled. His haul of three gold medals was impressive as he took the top spot in the 400 metres, 1500 metres freestyle and 200 metres butterfly event. This achievement remains unequalled as no swimmer since has completed the hat trick of wins across these events.

© EMPICS

The British Empire and Commonwealth Games of 1958 (re-branded in 1954 from the original title of the British Empire Games) were held in the Welsh capital of Cardiff. Ian Black was a clear medal prospect for Scotland and the Scottish relay teams also had hopes of success.

In the 440 yards freestyle event Ian Black won silver in a time of 4:28.5. The gold belonged to John Konrads of Australia, who together with his sister Isla were the 'Konrads Kids', the swimming sensations from down-under. John Konrads won three gold medals, beating Ian Black by almost three seconds in the 440-yard event.

The 220 yards Butterfly event, the stroke being Black's best, brought gold for Scotland. Graham Symonds of England who secured silver was left trailing by the blistering performance of Black who won by almost three seconds in a time of 2:22.6.

Ian Black's third medal came in the 4 x 220 yards freestyle relay. Australia, led by John Konrads, took gold while Ian Black led the Scottish team to silver.

In two championships the young Scot had gained six medals, four of them gold, and made himself a headline name in his own country and the world of swimming.

© SCRAN

The field for the 1958 BBC Sports Personality award was strong. All four British Teams had qualified for the World Cup for the first time, providing John Charles and Bobby Charlton with claims. Stirling Moss had won five of the ten Grand Prix events in motor racing but had been pipped for the championship by Mike Hawthorn. Strong as the competition was, it was not enough to beat the achievements of Ian Black.

When the result was announced at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, a surprised Ian Black made his way to the stage to receive his award accompanied by the strains of 'scotland The Brave' being played by two trumpeters. With both hands firmly on the BBC Sports Personality Trophy, Ian Black was both brief and modest in his remarks: "I can assure you that this is most unexpected. There is nothing I can say that I have not already said except thank you very much, especially to the viewers who voted for me."

1959 saw Ian Black break Vladimir Strushanov's world record in the 400 metres individual medley. Taking four seconds from the record in Cardiff in 1959, Black recorded a time of 5:08.8. It was a record he would hold for a year until George Harrison broke it twice in the same day in Los Angeles in 1960.

In 1960 Ian Black became an Olympian. He represented Great Britain at the summer Olympics in Rome and was unlucky not to return home with a medal.

Ian Black's swimming career began at Robert Gordon's College Junior School and his subsequent academic career took him full circle when he was appointed as the Head Teacher of the School.

His medals, titles, world and European records made Ian Black one of the finest swimmers to have come from Scotland. In November 2002 Ian Black's achievements were recognised as he was among the first 50 men and women to be inducted in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

Written by: Paul Mitchell