Johnny Weissmuller

Although his records have long since been surpassed, and although others have won more Olympic medals, Johnny Weissmuller remains the best known swimmer of all time. Weissmuller set the first of his many world records as a 17-year-old in 1922 and experts considered his 100y freestyle record of 51.0 in 1927 to be the greatest of all his achievements. This remained a world record for 17 years, although Weissmuller himself swam 48.5, as a 36-year-old, after he had joined the professional ranks. He was the first man to better one minute for the 100m freestyle, the first man under five minutes for the 440y freestyle, and he won a total of 51 AAU championships. After a loss in the 1921 AAU 440y freestyle to Ludy Langer, there is no record of his ever losing another race. Weissmuller later became a model for underwear, which led to an acting career. He became the best known of the screen Tarzans, appearing in 12 Tarzan movies, and involvement in a number of successful aquatic related businesses enabled him to lead a prosperous life. He was married five times, and spent his final years in poor health in Mexico.