Elizabeth ("Beth") Whittall was only 17 years old when she won the Silver medal in the 4x100yd freestyle relay at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.  In 1955 Beth competed in Mexico City for the Pan American Games and won two Gold medals in the 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly events and two Silver medals in the 4x100 freestyle and 4x100 medley relays. A remarkable achievement under any conditions, but winning three of those medals within 30 minutes of each other is incomprehensible in current times.

Beth was awarded the Lou Marsh Memorial Award in 1955 as Canada’s Top Athlete and by the end of that same year she held five swimming records including the 100yd butterfly and one-mile swim.  Beth was a member of the 1956 Canadian Olympic Team and retired the following year.  Beth continued her winning ways in Masters level competition when she competed in the Canadian Masters Swimming Championship in 1987, winning a Gold medal and setting a Canadian record for the 200m freestyle.