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 History On This Day: June 20
June 20, 1936 – Faster than fast that was how many described him. Jesse Owens
Sports History On This Day: June 19
June 19, 1946 – This is really going to be the beginning of historic games
Sports History On This Day: June 18
June 18, 1911 – It was truly sports history in the making! The greatest comeback
Sports History On This Day: June 17
June 17, 1915 – Chicago Cubs relief pitcher George “Zip” Zabel is brought out of the
Sports History On This Day: June 16
June 16, 1968 – Legendary golfer Lee Trevino won his first major title at the
Sports History On This Day: June 15
June 15, 1970 – An exciting 18-hole playoff took place at the LPGA Championship at
Pro Football Hall of Fame Talk (w/ Vinny Lospinuso)
Vinny Lospinuso rides shotgun in the DeLorean with me this week to talk all
1970s Cincinnati Reds – “The Big Red Machine”
Their nickname, “Big Red Machine,” was no exaggeration. After winning the National League pennant