The South African swimming great Karen Muir, who occupies a unique place in sport, has died of breast cancer at the age of 60.
Muir set the first of her 15 world records in the 110 yards backstroke event at the 1980 English Junior Championships aged 12 years, 10 months 25 days, making her the youngest world record holder in any sport.
Muir never competed at the Olympics because of the sports boycott imposed on her country.
She qualified as a doctor and emigrated to Canada where she practised until her death.
