David Wilkie's son quits job in bid to match British Olympic legend's swimming record for charity

Callum Vurley
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:23:31 +0000

Adam Wilkie has handed in his notice and embarked on what he calls a "Hail Mary" mission – spending an entire year training to match the swimming time his late father set half a century ago.

The 33-year-old marketing manager, whose closest brush with sport at work was a standing desk, is attempting to swim 200 metres breaststroke in 2 minutes 15.11 seconds.

That's the world record his dad David Wilkie set when he stormed to Olympic gold in Montreal back in 1976.

"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."

David, one of Britain's most celebrated Olympians, passed away from cancer in 2024 at the age of 70.

His son hopes the challenge will raise £215,000 for SportsAid while honouring the man he lost far too soon.

David Wilkie was just 22 when he touched the wall in Montreal, smashing the previous world record by more than three seconds.

It was a moment that ended 68 years of waiting for a British men's swimming gold medal.

Born in Sri Lanka to Scottish parents, he moved to Edinburgh and joined Warrender Baths at 11 under coach Frank Thomas.

By the time he hung up his goggles, he held British, European, Commonwealth, American NCAA and Olympic titles simultaneously – something nobody has managed before or since.

He was a true pioneer too, becoming the first swimmer to wear both a cap and goggles in competition.

With his flowing locks tucked away and that famous bushy moustache, he cut quite the figure.

Duncan Goodhew, who won Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980, called him "a swimming god" upon his death.

For Adam, this challenge runs far deeper than chasing a time on a clock.

He never saw his father compete professionally – he wasn't born until 1993, 17 years after David retired.

Swimming always felt like his dad's story, separate from their family life together.

But after David died, something shifted.

"When he died, it felt like a natural way to feel close to him," Adam explains. "While you swim, you're staring at a line so you've got a lot of time to think."

He found himself having conversations with his father in the water, even though David was no longer there.

"This is my way of processing the grief of losing him and making sense of what he left behind," he says. "It's my way of having one last conversation with him."

There's a touching irony too – Adam was actually scared of deep water as a child and still doesn't love the deep end.

Adam has quit his London job as a senior global brand manager at Bulldog Skincare to throw himself into training full-time.

He's been saving up to make it happen, and the support behind him is impressive.

Aquatics GB will provide access to world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and elite training facilities.

Duncan Goodhew is backing the challenge too, saying: "Adam isn't just chasing a record. He's trying to understand his father, his mindset, and his journey."

The £215,000 fundraising target for SportsAid is no random figure – it mirrors that iconic 2:15.11 time.

The charity gave David its very first recognition award back in 1976, making the connection even more meaningful.

Adam's journey will take him through his father's life, from the Scottish pools where it all began to Miami, where David became a three-time NCAA champion, and finally to Montreal itself.

Yet for all his Olympic glory, David was simply "dad" to Adam and his sister Natasha.

"I remember watching him swimming and it was like he manipulated the water," Adam recalls. "He'd dive into the ocean and disappear under the surface and come up 50 metres away – he was like a fish."

Family holidays meant splashing about together in Loch Morlich near Aviemore, not training sessions.

David was famously humble about his achievements, never boastful, always at ease with himself.

Adam hopes this challenge will demonstrate just how extraordinary elite swimmers truly are while bringing his father's legacy to a new generation.

"I think he would be proud that his son is trying to do something to remember him," Adam says.

Drew Barrand, Aquatics GB Chief Executive, puts it beautifully: "By chasing his father's 2:15.11 record, he's not just honouring history – he's shining a light on the next generation of swimmers."