Andrew David Jameson (born 19 February 1965) is an English sports commentator and former competitive swimmer. Active as an elite swimmer in the mid to late 1980s he represented Great Britain in two consecutive
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The ina ...
, the FINA World Championships, LEN European Championships, as well as England in the Commonwealth Games. At his peak between 1986 and 1988 he won the gold medal in 100 metre butterfly at the
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games ( gd, Geamannan a 'Cho-fhlaitheis 1986) were held in Edinburgh, Scotland, between 24 July and 2 August 1986. They were the second Games to be held in Edinburgh. Thirty two of the eligible fifty nine countries (largel ...
, the
1987 European Aquatics Championships
The 1987 European Aquatics Championships, organized by the Ligue Européenne de Natation, were held in an indoor pool (50 m) in Strasbourg, France from 16 August to 23 August 1987. Besides swimming there were titles contested in diving, sync ...
and the
1987 Summer Universiade, as well as the 100 metre freestyle gold at the same Universiade. Winning the bronze medal at the
1986 World Aquatics Championships
The 1986 World Aquatics Championships took place in M86 Swimming Center in Madrid, Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (L ...
, Jameson's career in the pool culminated in winning the bronze medal in the
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
, his second and final Olympic Games.
Profile
Jameson was born in
Crosby, Merseyside
Crosby is a coastal town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it is north of Bootle, south of Southport and Formby, and west of Netherton. It abuts the areas of Blundellsands to the north and ...
. His swimming career was initially centred on individual medley and backstroke events, but after studying at
Arizona State University
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
, he decided to specialise in the 100-metre butterfly and 100-metre freestyle events. Initially he represented
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in the backstroke events, at the
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...
in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia. He had also won the 1982 ASA National Championship title in the
200 metres backstroke.
A founder member of
Kelly College
Kelly College was a coeducational independent school in the English public school tradition situated in the outskirts of Tavistock, Devon, with around 350 students ranging from ages 3 to 18. There was an associated preparatory school for pri ...
Swim Squad in
Tavistock
Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town within West Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards (North, South and South West) had a population of 13,028 ...
(along with
Sharron Davies
Sharron Elizabeth Davies, (born 1 November 1962) is an English former competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics and European championships and competed for England in the Commonwealth Games. Davies has attended 12 ...
) Jameson represented Great Britain at the
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...
in Los Angeles, where he finished 5th place in the 100-metre butterfly. He then won silver in the 100-metre butterfly at the 1985 European Championships (Sofia), behind the German star swimmer
Michael Gross.
Jameson took bronze in the 100-metre butterfly at the 1986 World Championships (Madrid), and then went on to take gold when representing
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in the same event at the
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
Commonwealth Games later that year. In addition to the gold he won a silver and bronze in the relay events and a bronze in the 100 metres freestyle. He went on to win the 1986 and 1988 ASA National Championship
100 metres butterfly titles, the 1988 ASA
National Championship 100 metres freestyle title and the
200 metres backstroke title in 1982.
He won gold at the 1987 European Championships (Strasbourg) in the 100-metre butterfly, and was also part of the team which took silver in the 4×100-metre medley relay and going into the
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...
in Seoul, South Korea, he was one of the pre-race favourites to win, having been undefeated for over two years in the 100-metre butterfly. He qualified fastest into the final, where he took bronze in a time of 53.30 seconds, breaking both the British and Commonwealth records in the process.
Personal life
Jameson was educated at
Chesterfield High School
Chesterfield High School in Crosby, Merseyside, England, officially opened in 1974. The school has an intake of roughly 1,200 students in years 7–11.
The school was founded as a comprehensive from Waterloo Park Grammar School for Girls, Haig ...
and presented prizes at the school's prize giving ceremony in December 1988.
Jameson retired from competitive swimming in 1989. He commentates on swimming for the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
. His older sister
was also a competitive swimmer, and represented Britain at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow and won a silver medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay. His younger sister Jo was a swimmer then became a primary teacher.
He now lives in London with his wife Peggy Jameson, with whom he has two children, Maisie (1998) and Oscar (2000).