Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He began swimming as a child shortly after he moved with his family to Australia in the mid-1940s. Nicknamed "the Seaweed Streak", he became a national hero at age 17 after winning three Gold Medals in the 400 meter, 1500 meter freestyle events and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, at the 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne, Australia. After the Melbourne Olympics, he relocated to the California, attended the University of Southern California, where he swam competitively and studied drama. At the 1960 Olympic Games Rome, Italy, he won the Gold Medal in the 400 freestyle, Silver in the 1500 freestyle and Bronze in the 4x200 freestyle relay. Before graduating from USC in 1962, he set 15 world records, including marks in the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles. A popular figure, he also appeared on the TV shows "You Bet Your Life", "To Tell the Truth", plus in the films "Ride the Wild Surf" (1964) and "Ice Station Zebra" (1968). In 2000, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and received the Australian Sports Medal. He died from leukemia at age 73.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He began swimming as a child shortly after he moved with his family to Australia in the mid-1940s. Nicknamed "the Seaweed Streak", he became a national hero at age 17 after winning three Gold Medals in the 400 meter, 1500 meter freestyle events and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, at the 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne, Australia. After the Melbourne Olympics, he relocated to the California, attended the University of Southern California, where he swam competitively and studied drama. At the 1960 Olympic Games Rome, Italy, he won the Gold Medal in the 400 freestyle, Silver in the 1500 freestyle and Bronze in the 4x200 freestyle relay. Before graduating from USC in 1962, he set 15 world records, including marks in the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles. A popular figure, he also appeared on the TV shows "You Bet Your Life", "To Tell the Truth", plus in the films "Ride the Wild Surf" (1964) and "Ice Station Zebra" (1968). In 2000, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and received the Australian Sports Medal. He died from leukemia at age 73.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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