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
Sports Betting: A Journey Through Time and Technology
How did placing a bet on your favorite sports team become so popular? Sports
Remembering Two Great NFL Playoff Games of the 1970s
There were a couple of very competitive playoff games in the NFL during the
The Birth of the NFL: Revisiting Sports History’s Most Iconic Moments
The National Football League’s journey began modestly in an Ohio car dealership. A group
Bill Walton’s Feet: A Legacy of Pain and Progress
How does a player who spent 14 seasons in the NBA with only two
History of NBA Team Nicknames: Atlantic Division
I love the history of sports team nicknames. Today I am sharing some of
Charlotte Hornets’ Arena History: From the Charlotte Coliseum to the Spectrum Center
The journey of the Charlotte Hornets’ arenas is a fascinating tale of evolution, innovation,
1964 Buffalo Bills (Best Team in AFL History?)
I began watching Pro Football in 1969, probably sooner, since my father and older
Curse Reversed. Looking Back at the 2004 Red Sox
For many Red Sox fans, it will feel like yesterday. But even for neutrals,