Smaller than the rest of her contemporaries, Elaine Tanner earned the nickname “Mighty Mouse” through a stupendous four-year national and international career. Coached by fellow BC Sports Hall of Famer, Howard Firby, Tanner was also inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

At the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Tanner won four gold medals in the 110-yard and 220-yard butterfly, the 440m medley relay, and the 400m freestyle relay. At the 1967 Pan American Games, she won two gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke while setting two world records. She also captured three silver medals in the 100m butterfly, the 400m medley and the 400m freestyle relay.

At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tanner captured two silver medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke and a bronze in the 400m freestyle relay.

In addition, Tanner won numerous international meets and held seventeen Canadian titles between 1965-68. She became the youngest swimmer to win Canada’s “Top Swimmer of the Year” Award in 1966.