Background
Grinham was born in the London suburb of Hampstead and grew up in Neasden.
Grinham was born in the London suburb of Hampstead and grew up in Neasden.
Grinham competed in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, winning the 100-metre backstroke in 1 minute, 12.9 seconds, a world record. She became the first athlete in any sport to hold Olympic, Commonwealth and European gold medals at the same time. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honour Swimmer" in 1981.
In 2007, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen"s Birthday Honours list, 50 years after winning gold in Melbourne.