July 19, 1922 – This was truly a monumental moment in swimming history! American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller became the first person to break the 1-minute mark barrier for the 100-meter freestyle swim. Weissmuller was like a torpedo as he swam the races duration recording a 58.6 second time at a pool in Alameda, California.
The talented athlete set numerous world records along with winning five gold medals in the Olympics for the US. Johnny won the 100m freestyle and the 4 × 200 m relay team event in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris and the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Weissmuller also won gold in the 400m freestyle, as well as a bronze medal in the water polo competition in Paris.
His Olympic fame and good looks had him cast into films in Hollywood including the 1932 movie of “Tarzan the Apeman” in which he developed the famous Tarzan yell that is still associated with the vine-swinging hero today.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Dominant Season of the 1986 New York Mets
After winning the World Series in 1969 and the National League Pennant in 1973,
Traditional Bookmakers vs. Modern Sportsbook Apps: What’s Changed for Bettors?
Credit Eslam Mohammed Abdelmaksoud via Pexels.com Sports betting has changed considerably over the past
Coming Back for the Ball in the 1970s
One of the important duties for any wide receiver in the sport of football
A look at the evolution of the NCAA College Basketball bracket
Every March, the NCAA tournament becomes a national discussion. Each upset seems personal in
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2026: horses, history and what to watch
Few races in world horse racing carry the prestige of the Prix de l’Arc
From Box Scores to Live Data: How Fans Follow Sport
The games have changed less than you might think. A touchdown in 1970 counts
6 Best Places to Buy a Golf Simulator Projector: A 2026 Buyer’s Guide for Serious Home-Simulator Builds
Photo by A n v e s h on Unsplash The projector feeding your
The Epsom Derby Runnings That Made Racing History
The Derby was first run at Epsom Downs in 1780 and remains the most