Wilding (72) won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke in a tight finish with only one-fifth of a second separating the first three swimmers.
"I was delighted to get the bronze medal. It was so close and there was only a fifth of a second between three of us," Wilding said.
"It was literally decided on height. I was the shortest."
There was no electronic timing then. Each swimmer had three time keepers and the official time was the average of those times.
"It was special and I was very proud, especially as Great Britain got first and third and the Union Jack was raised and God Save the Queen was played."
It was different in the 1950s, when the world was still recovering from the devastation of World War 2. There was little support for elite athletes.
"I was only 17 and I'd come to the other side of the world without my parents, friends, physios or coaches," she said.
"It was a nerve-wracking occasion." What they did have in the Great Britain team were strict chaperones.
"The Games village was segregated with the male and female quarters separated by high fences and guarded by a soldier who kept sentry.
"What was amazing was the food. Great Britain had not long come out of food rationing after the war and we had never seen so much food."
Wilding also broke four world records during 1957-58 with times of 1min 13.5sec (first), 1min 12.4sec (second and third) and 1min 12.3sec (fourth) for the 110yds which is slightly longer than 100m.
The second time was also a metric record for the 100m. She also won a silver medal in the 100m backstroke at the Cardiff Commonwealth Games in 1958.
She continued swimming for her club until the age of 31.
"I just loved swimming," she said. "We travelled a lot but we always kept swimming for fitness."
Wilding resumed serious swimming in 1989 as part of her recovery from a car accident.
"The masters had started so I started competing in masters," she said.
She continued her record breaking in masters events in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke in the various age groups.
"It was interesting coming back into masters swimming because everyone is so keen, especially those who did not swim competitively when they were young," she said.
"It is more difficult for those who have swum at a high standard in their youth because people expect you to be good.
"I've enjoyed the camaraderie. It's more relaxing than when you were young."
She has bought a house in Wanaka and spends five months of the year in the town.
"It's just like paradise," Wilding said.
But this was her first Masters Games in Dunedin.
"Swimming is a wonderful sport because it keeps you supple. This is important as you get older," she said.
"The MG is a great event and it's great to see older people keeping fit."
She also cycles and does Pilates for fitness. Wilding intends to watch this year's London Olympics.
"I have got tickets for the 100m backstroke final and for athletics and gymnastics."
