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
Chuck Taylor: The Greatest Shoe Salesman of All-Time
The name Chuck Taylor should ring a bell for any basketball fan. But you
The Calumet Indians Take on the Chicago Bears in Hammond, IN
Tuesday, October 18, 1938, was one of the most unique days in the history
It’s Disco Inferno Time, Baby! (a.k.a. Glenn Gilbertti)
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER made John Travolta a household name. Movies like Urban Cowboy, Grease, and
What Was The NFL Coaching Carousel Like In The 1970s?
Perhaps no other era in the sport of pro football has seen the renewing
Biggest Comebacks in Super Bowl History
We are not even halfway through the 2022 NFL regular season yet but many
13 Statements About Alexander Cartwright and the Founding of Baseball
***This article was submitted by Doron “Duke” Goldman.*** Alexander Cartwright has been called both
Remembering Charley Trippi (Pro Football Hall of Famer)
We recently learned of the passing of Charley Trippi, one of the most versatile
Boxing Throughout the Years: Fights that Left a Mark in the World
Boxing has been providing fantastic entertainment for fans throughout the years. Sometimes, a bout becomes