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
Remembering the 1974 New England Patriots
The NFL is replete with numerous teams over the years who have had good
1972 Munich Summer Games (Memorable For Many Reasons)
The world will always look forward to the Summer Games, but the world will
Fastest Man in Baseball History – Was a Pro Football Player!
Baseball is a timeless game. We love it because the basic rules have changed
What Is The USFL Project Trying To Accomplish?
The USFL was a wildly popular league for many football fans during the mid-1980s.
Super Bowl XVII (Dolphins vs. Redskins): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XVII, which was held on January 30, 1983, at
Epic Seasons: The 1976 Washington Redskins
Ask any pro football historian what George Allen’s greatest coaching year was, and he
Was The 1972 Undefeated Miami Dolphins Really The NFL’s Best Team?
Last week I wrote an article comparing the 1972 and 1973 Miami Dolphins. I
Early NFL Players Tackle Off-Season Jobs
Before the television era of professional football, which certainly changed the financial outlook of