Swimming at the 1960 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Contents

Swimming
at the Games of the XVII Olympiad
Venue Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto
Dates26 August – 3 September 1960
No. of events15
Competitors380 from 45 nations
  1956
1964  

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, 15 swimming events were contested, eight for men and seven for women. There was a total of 380 participants from 45 countries competing. [1] [2] For the first time, the 4 × 100 metres medley relay was contested. The United States topped the medal standings with a total of 15 medals (9 gold), while Australia finished a close second with 13 medals (5 gold). 16-years-old phenom Chris von Saltza won four medals, three of them gold.

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)93315
2Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)55313
3Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain  (GBR)1113
4Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan  (JPN)0325
5Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)0134
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)0123
7Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)0101
8Flag of Brazil (1960-1968).svg  Brazil  (BRA)0011
Totals (8 entries)15151545

Medal summary

Men's events

GamesGoldSilverBronze
100 m freestyle
details
John Devitt
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
55.2
(OR)
Lance Larson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
55.2
(OR)
Manuel dos Santos
Flag of Brazil (1960-1968).svg  Brazil
55.4
400 m freestyle
details
Murray Rose
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
4:18.3
(OR)
Tsuyoshi Yamanaka
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
4:21.4 John Konrads
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
4:21.8
1500 m freestyle
details
John Konrads
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
17:19.2
(OR)
Murray Rose
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
17:21.7 George Breen
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
17:30.6
100 m backstroke
details
David Theile
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1:01.9
(OR)
Frank McKinney
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1:02.1 Bob Bennett
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1:02.3
200 m breaststroke
details
Bill Mulliken
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:37.4 Yoshihiko Osaki
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
2:38.0 Wieger Mensonides
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2:39.7
200 m butterfly
details
Mike Troy
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:12.8
(WR)
Neville Hayes
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
2:14.6 Dave Gillanders
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:15.3
4 × 200 m freestyle relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)
George Harrison
Dick Blick
Mike Troy
Jeff Farrell
8:10.2 (WR)Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan  (JPN)
Makoto Fukui
Hiroshi Ishii
Tsuyoshi Yamanaka
Tatsuo Fujimoto
8:13.3Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)
David Dickson
John Devitt
Murray Rose
John Konrads
8:13.8
4 × 100 m medley relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)
Frank McKinney
Paul Hait
Lance Larson
Jeff Farrell
4:05.4 (WR)Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)
David Theile
Terry Gathercole
Neville Hayes
Geoff Shipton
4:12.0Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan  (JPN)
Kazuo Tomita
Koichi Hirakida
Yoshihiko Osaki
Keigo Shimuzu
4:12.2

Women's events

GamesGoldSilverBronze
100 m freestyle
details
Dawn Fraser
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1:01.2 (OR) Chris von Saltza
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1:02.8 Natalie Steward
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
1:03.1
400 m freestyle
details
Chris von Saltza
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4:50.6 (OR) Jane Cederqvist
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
4:53.9 Tineke Lagerberg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
4:56.9
100 m backstroke
details
Lynn Burke
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1:09.3 (OR) Natalie Steward
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
1:10.8 Satoko Tanaka
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
1:11.4
200 m breaststroke
details
Anita Lonsbrough
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
2:49.5 (WR) Wiltrud Urselmann
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
2:50.0 Barbara Göbel
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
2:53.6
100 m butterfly
details
Carolyn Schuler
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1:09.5 (OR) Marianne Heemskerk
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1:10.4 Jan Andrew
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1:12.2
4 × 100 m freestyle relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)
Joan Spillane
Shirley Stobs
Carolyn Wood
Chris von Saltza
4:08.9 (WR)Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)
Dawn Fraser
Ilsa Konrads
Lorraine Crapp
Alva Colquhoun
4:11.3Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)
Christel Steffin
Heidi Pechstein
Gisela Weiss
Ursel Brunner
4:19.7
4 × 100 m medley relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)
Lynn Burke
Patty Kempner
Carolyn Schuler
Chris von Saltza
4:41.1 (WR)Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)
Marilyn Wilson
Rosemary Lassig
Jan Andrew
Dawn Fraser
4:45.9Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)
Ingrid Schmidt
Ursula Küper
Bärbel Fuhrmann
Ursel Brunner
4:47.6

100m men's freestyle controversy

Results were decided by finish judges who relied on their eyes and did not use replays. Three judges were assigned to each finishing position. There were three official timers in 1960 for each lane and swimmer, all timing by hand. All three timers for Devitt, in lane three, timed him in 55.2 seconds. The three timers for lane four timed Lance Larson in 55.0, 55.1, and 55.1 seconds. [3]

Former Olympic swimmer and FINA co-founder Max Ritter inspected the judge's scorecards. Two of the three first-place judges found that Devitt had finished first and the third found for Larson. Of the three-second-place judges, two found that Devitt finished second and one found that Larson was second. Ritter pointed out to chief judge Henry Runströmer of Sweden that the scorecards indicated a tie. Runstrümer cast the deciding vote and declared Devitt the winner. However, the rules at that time did not provide for the chief judge to have a vote or give him the right to break ties. [4] Ties were supposed to be broken by referring to the timing machine. The official results placed Devitt first and Larson second, both with the identical time of 55.2 seconds. [5] The United States team appealed, bolstered by videotaped footage of the finish that appeared to show Larson the winner. [6] The appeal jury, headed by Jan de Vries, also the President of FINA in 1960, rejected the appeal, keeping Devitt the winner. [7] This controversy would pave the way for electronic touchpads to be included in swimming events to determine finish and accurate timing.

Participating nations

380 swimmers from 45 nations competed. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Devitt</span> Australian swimmer (1937–2023)

John Thomas Devitt, AM was an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won a gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He won in controversial circumstances, being awarded the gold medal despite the timekeepers recording a slower time than the American silver medallist Lance Larson. He also claimed a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Sjöström</span> Swedish swimmer (born 1993)

Sarah Fredrika Sjöström is a Swedish competitive swimmer specialising in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events and one of the most decorated swimmers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuliya Yefimova</span> Russian swimmer

Yuliya Andreyevna Yefimova is a Russian competitive swimmer. She is the Russian record holder in the 200 metre individual medley, 50 metre breaststroke, 100 metre breaststroke, and 200 metre breaststroke. After making her Olympic debut in 2008, she went on to win the bronze medal in the 200 metre breaststroke in 2012, and silver medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre breaststroke in 2016. She is a six-time World Champion, winning the 50 metre breaststroke in 2009 and 2013, the 100 metre breaststroke in 2015, and the 200 metre breaststroke in 2013, 2017, and 2019. In 2019, she became the first woman to win the 200 metre breaststroke at a FINA World Aquatics Championships three times. She is a former world record holder in the long course 50 metre breaststroke. She has won 109 medals, including 48 gold medals, at Swimming World Cups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Larson</span> American swimmer (1940–2024)

Lance Melvin Larson was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and world record-holder in four events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle</span>

The men's 100 metre freestyle event at the 1960 Olympic Games took place between August 26 and 27. There were 51 competitors from 34 nations. Nations were limited to two swimmers each, down from three in previous Games. The event was won by John Devitt of Australia over Lance Larson of the United States in a controversial, disputed finish that resulted in a push for electronic timing. It was Australia's second consecutive victory in the event, third-most all-time behind the United States' 7 gold medals and Hungary's 3. Devitt, silver medalist four years earlier, was the fifth man to win multiple medals in the event. Manuel dos Santos earned Brazil's first medal in the men's 100 metre freestyle with his bronze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad le Clos</span> South African swimmer (born 1992)

Chad Guy Bertrand le Clos, OIS is a South African competitive swimmer who is an Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games champion. He is the African record, Commonwealth record, and South African record holder in the short course and long course 200-metre butterfly and the short course 100-metre butterfly. He also holds African and South African records in the long course 200-metre freestyle and 100-metre butterfly, as well as the short course 100-metre freestyle. Formerly, he was a world record holder in the short course 100-metre butterfly and 200-metre butterfly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Shields</span> American swimmer (born 1991)

Thomas Allen Shields is an American competitive swimmer. He is a two-time Olympian and the current American record-holder in the short course 50-meter butterfly and 200-meter butterfly. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg of the relay in the prelims. Later the same year, he became the first American to swim faster than 44 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly, setting a new American record of 43.84 seconds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vladimir Morozov (swimmer)</span> Russian swimmer

Vladimir Viktorovich Morozov is a retired Russian competitive swimmer and Olympic medalist. He is the former world record holder in the short course 100-metre individual medley, the current, World Cup record and Russian national record holder in the 100-metre individual medley and 100-metre freestyle, and Russian record holder in the 50-metre freestyle. He also holds the European record for the 100-metre individual medley. Formerly he held the Russian national record in the 50-metre backstroke and the 50-metre butterfly, and held the European and Russian records in the 50-metre breaststroke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nic Fink</span> American swimmer (born 1993)

Nicolas Fink is an American competitive swimmer. He is a five-time world champion in breaststroke events and a 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist in the 100 meter breaststroke. He is a world record holder in the short course 4×100 meter medley relay and 4×50 meter mixed medley relay. He is the Americas record holder in the short course 50 meter breaststroke, 100 meter breaststroke, and 200 meter breaststroke as well as the American record holder in the long course 50 meter breaststroke. In the 50 meter breaststroke, he won the World Short Course titles in 2021 and 2022 and World Long Course title in 2022. In the 100 meter breaststroke, he is the 2022 World Short Course gold medalist. In the 200 meter breaststroke, he is the 2021 World Short Course gold medalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma McKeon</span> Australian swimmer (born 1994)

Emma Jennifer McKeon, is a retired Australian competitive swimmer. She is an eight-time world record holder, three current and five former, in relays. Her total career haul of 14 Olympic medals following the 2024 Olympic Games made her the most decorated Australian, the third-most decorated swimmer, and the seventh-most decorated athlete in Olympic history and included one gold medal from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, four gold medals from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and one gold medal from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. With four gold and three bronze medals she was the most decorated athlete across all sports at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and tied for the most medals won by a woman in a single Olympic Games. She also won 20 medals, including five gold medals, at the World Aquatics Championships; and a record 20 medals, including 14 gold, at the Commonwealth Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Weitzeil</span> American swimmer (born 1996)

Abbigail "Abbey" Weitzeil is an American competition swimmer specializing in sprint freestyle. A multiple time Olympic medalist, she won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay for swimming in the preliminary heats and a silver medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics. At the 2020 Summer Olympics she won a silver medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay and a bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, swimming in the final of both events. She is the American record holder in the 50-yard freestyle and is part of the American Record in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.

Kyle Chalmers, is an Australian competitive swimmer. He is a world record holder in the short course 100 metre freestyle, 4×100 metre medley relay, and long course 4×100 metre mixed freestyle relay. He is the Oceanian and Australian record holder in the short course 50 metre butterfly and 50 metre freestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Held</span> American swimmer (born 1995)

Ryan Held is an American freestyle swimmer who specializes in the sprint events, and is currently sponsored by Arena. He holds the U.S. Open record in the long course 100 meter freestyle and three world records in short course relay events. At the 2016 Summer Olympics he won a gold medal in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay, swimming in both the prelims and the final of the event. In 2021, he won silver medals in the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 meter freestyle at the 2021 World Short Course Championships. At his first FINA World Aquatics Championships, the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, he won a gold medal in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Carter (swimmer)</span> Trinidad and Tobago swimmer (born 1996)

Dylan Carter is a competitive swimmer. Born in the United States, he represents Trinidad and Tobago internationally. He is the Trinidad and Tobago record holder in the long course and short course 100 metre freestyle, 50 metre backstroke, 100 metre backstroke, 50 metre butterfly, and 100 metre butterfly. At the 2021 World Short Course Championships, he became the first swimmer representing Trinidad and Tobago to win a silver medal a World Short Course Championships, winning the silver medal in the 50 metre butterfly. In 2018 and 2022, he won the bronze medal in the 50 metre butterfly and the 50 metre freestyle at the World Short Course Championships, respectively. He was the male overall winner for the 2022 FINA Swimming World Cup, winning nine gold medals, five in Trinidad and Tobago record times, to become the first Trinidad and Tobago overall winner. He is of Portuguese descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicolò Martinenghi</span> Italian swimmer (born 1999)

Nicolò Martinenghi is an Italian swimmer and the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 metre breaststroke event, having won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He is a two-time world record holder in the 4×50 metre medley relay, swimming breaststroke on both relays. He is the Italian record holder in the 50 metre breaststroke and 100 metre breaststroke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claire Curzan</span> American swimmer (born 2004)

Claire Curzan is an American competitive swimmer and Olympian. Specialising in multiple events, she earned an Olympic silver medal in the 4×100 meter medley relay in the 2020 Summer Olympics by swimming the preliminary butterfly leg. She holds junior world records in the long course 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter butterfly and the short course 50 meter butterfly and 100 meter butterfly. She also holds American records in the short course 50 meter backstroke and 50 meter butterfly, and formerly held the American record in the 100 yard butterfly. She currently swims for the Virginia Cavaliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torri Huske</span> American swimmer (born 2002)

Victoria "Torri" Huske is an American competitive swimmer and the reigning Olympic champion in the 100-meter butterfly. She holds world records in two relays: the 4x100-meter medley and 4x100-meter mixed medley. She is the former American record holder in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly.

Andrew Patrick “Drew” Kibler is an American competition swimmer specializing in freestyle events. He is a world record holder in the short course 4×200 meter freestyle relay and a former American record holder in the 4×200 yard freestyle relay. He won a gold medal in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay each at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and the 2022 World Short Course Championships and placed fourth in the event at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He is an Olympic silver medalist in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the 200 meter freestyle, he took fourth-place at both the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and the 2022 World Short Course Championships. He is also a three-time NCAA champion in the 4×200 yard freestyle relay, winning NCAA titles in the event in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Armstrong</span> American swimmer (born 2001)

Joseph Hunter Armstrong is an American competitive swimmer. He is the world record holder in the long course 50 meter backstroke. At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, he won a silver medal in the 50 meter backstroke, a bronze medal in the 100 meter backstroke, gold medals in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay and 4×100 meter mixed medley relay, and a silver medal in the 4×100 meter medley relay. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 4×100 meter medley relay, swimming backstroke in the preliminaries, and placed ninth in the 100 meter backstroke.

Shaine Casas is an American professional swimmer. He is an Americas record holder in the short course 4×50 meter medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg of the relay. At the 2021 World Short Course Championships, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke, a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke, and placed seventh in the 50-meter backstroke. In 2022, at the year's World Aquatics Championships, he won the bronze medal in the 200-metre backstroke. Later in the year, at the 2022 World Short Course Championships, he won the silver medal in the 200-metre backstroke and placed fourth in the finals of the 100-meter individual medley and 200-meter individual medley.

References

  1. 1 2 "Swimming at the 1960 Rome Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. "Olympedia – Swimming at the 1960 Summer Olympics". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  3. David Maraniss, Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World, Simon & Schuster, New York City, p. 130 (2008).
  4. Maraniss, Rome 1960 p. 132
  5. Maraniss, Rome 1960, p. 131
  6. Maraniss, Rome 1960, p. 137
  7. Maraniss, Rome 1960, p. 138