400 metres Freestyle, Men

All bar one of the men’s swimming events at the 1932 Olympic Games resulted in Japanese victories; the exception was the victory of Buster Crabbe in the 400 metres freestyle. Although Crabbe was well respected over the distance, France’s Jean Taris was the world record holder and another of the talented young Japanese swimmers, Takashi Yokoyama, had recorded the best heat times. The final quickly turned into a duel between Taris and Crabbe with the three Japanese finalists fighting for the bronze medal. The Frenchman pulled out to an early lead and was two lengths ahead of his rival at the halfway stage, but Crabbe came back at him, drew level and, as the excited crowd roared their local boy onwards, passed Taris to touch first. The margin between first and second at the finish was just a tenth of a second. Crabbe followed Johnny Weissmuller into an acting career and followed him in the role of )Tarzan). He is perhaps best known for his appearances in the “Buck Rogers” and )Flash Gordon) serials from the thirties and early forties.