Ilsa was born in Latvia and arrived in Australia as a five year old after leaving war torn Europe behind. The family eventually moved to Sydney after short stays in rural New South Wales. As a 13-year-old in 1958 Ilsa stunned the nation when she broke two women's freestyle world records.
- Status: Pending1958Cardiff Empire/Commonwealth Games. 440 yards Freestyle Gold 4:49.4 (GR)
- Status: Pending1960Rome Olympics: 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Silver 4:11.3
- Status: Pending1962Perth Commonwealth Games: 440 yds Freestyle Silver 4:55.0
Beginnings
Ilsa first resided in the District of Revesby and attended Revesby Primary School, later moving to Cardigan Road, Greenacre. Each day, Ilsa and her brother John would cycle to the Bankstown pool before sunrise, for a two-hour training session, then returning home for breakfast and onto school. After school they woud repeat the training regimen.
Achievements
Ilsa broke her own world record three times in six months over 800m. In 1958, the results of Talbot's regime training began to materialize when at the age of 13 she broke the 800m and 880yds freestyle world records at the NSW championships.
Post Representation
In 1964, Ilsa would retire from swimming in at the age of nineteen, becoming a journalist and going on to edit Vogue Living and Belle magazines. She now works as a freelance publisher.