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
NCAA’s Men’s Basketball Teams With Perfect Records (A Brief Overview)
The quest for perfection in college basketball has been an elusive one. Since Bill
1972 NFC Semi-Final Game Between Dallas and San Fransisco
Dallas fell behind quickly when Vic Washington ran the opening kickoff 97 yards to
1948: The Last Hurrah of the Chicago Cardinals
Cardinals’ fans are familiar with the long, sad story concerning the current championship dry
Remembering the Great Punters of the 1970s
It is perhaps the least appreciated, or probably the least understood position in a
Beyond The Stitch: The Dynamic Story of Basketball Uniforms
In the thrilling sport of basketball, where every dribble and dunk counts, the right
Milwaukee Bucks’ Quest For Excellence (And A Look Back In Time)
The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2023-24 NBA season with high expectations, riding the momentum
The Longest NFL Game Ever Played
The 1971 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City
The Quickest Recorded Touchdowns in NFL History
There is no better way to start a game of football than with a