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
Monday Night Football Early Years (1985 – 1991)
Before we jump into Monday Night Football from 1985 thru 19991, if you haven’t
Jets vs Bills: Comparing Season Stats Before Week 18
Week 18 puts a familiar AFC East matchup under a different lens. Buffalo plays
Which Team “Could” Have Beaten the 1972 Dolphins?
The 1972 Miami Dolphins established a standard that has not been equaled since. They
Monday Night Football Early Years (1979 – 1984)
Before we jump into Monday Night Football from 1979 thru 1984, if you haven’t
Monday Night Football Early Years (1974 – 1978)
Before we jump into Monday Night Football from 1974 thru 1978, if you haven’t
Monday Night Football Early Years (1970 – 1973)
On September 21, 1970, the first Monday Night Football game featured the 1964 NFL
John Henry Johnson and the Million Dollar Backfield
Once, during a Super Bowl halftime interview, the legendary Jim Brown said that this
Why CasinosAnalyzer Is the Go-To Platform for Transparent Casino Rankings
In a digital landscape where more than 3,500 online casinos compete for attention, players