Boy Charlton
Encyclopedia
Andrew Murray Charlton (12 August 1907 – 10 December 1975), known popularly as Boy Charlton, was an Australia
n freestyle swimmer
of the 1920s and 1930s who won a gold medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1924 Summer Olympics
in Paris
. He set five world records and also won a further three silver and one bronze medal in his Olympic career.
as the only son of Oswald and Ada Charlton, the accounts of his early life vary. The Australian Dictionary of Biography states that his father was a bank manager, while other accounts suggest that he was raised in low socio-economic conditions and relied on benefactors to support his career. He was raised in the northern seaside suburb of Manly
and was educated at Manly Public School and later Sydney Grammar School
.
Swimming Association competition in 5m 45s. In 1922 Bill Harris
, the bronze medallist in the 100m freestyle at the 1920 Summer Olympics
, came to Australia from Honolulu
to compete against the likes of Frank Beaurepaire
and Moss Christie
. Charlton defeated Harris at the New South Wales Championships, winning the 440yd in 5m 22.4s. He then set a world record of 11m 5.4s in the 880yd event, as well as winning the one mile race in 23m 43.2s. Charlton used a trudgen
stroke which embodied characteristics of the modern crawl
stroke, which was at the time in its infancy.
In 1923, the 15-year-old Charlton swam for the first time against Beaurepaire, who had won 35 Australian Championships and had set 15 world records in his career. The Manly Baths was filled to capacity for the 440yd race, with Charlton winning the race by two yards in a time of 5m 20.4s, which led to Beaurepaire predicting that fitness permitting, Charlton would break world records in 1924.
The start of 1924 in Australia was highlighted by the arrival of Swedish
swimmer Arne Borg
, at the time the holder of four world records, to compete against the 16-year-old Charlton in the 440yd freestyle at the New South Wales Championships. The Domain Baths were filled to capacity with between 5000 and 8000 spectators, 400m queues forming outside the venue. Borg held the lead for the first half of the race until Charlton drew level, taking the lead at the 320yd mark. Charlton eventually won by 20yds to equal Borg's world record of 5m 11.8s. Charlton was giving a lap of honour as Borg rowed him around the pool in a small boat. They again met in the 880yd and 220yd events, with Charlton winning the former in a world record time of 10m 51.8s and the latter in an Australian record of 2m 23.8s.
and travelled to Paris
by sea with his coach, Tom Adriann, who was also appointed the team coach. On the way, Adriann suffered a nervous breakdown, and threw himself overboard. Even though Adriann was rescued, he was left in London while the team travelled to Paris without a coach.
Then, while in Paris, Charlton competed in his first event, the 1500 m freestyle. He won both his heat and his semi-final, qualifying for the final, where he lined up against Borg and Beaurepaire. In the final, Borg immediately claimed the lead and maintained it until the 300 m mark, when Charlton moved alongside him. Charlton forged ahead to lead by 5 metres at the 600 m, before proceeding to defeat Borg by 40 m, while lapping the remainder of the field to win gold in a new world record time of 20m 6.6s. In the 400 m freestyle, Charlton again lined up against Borg, and also Johnny Weissmuller
of the United States
. Charlton progressed to the final, finishing second to Weissmuller in both his heat and semi-final. In the final, Charlton, the distance specialist, trailed far behind as Borg and Weissmuller contested the lead. Charlton was eight metres behind at the 150 m mark, before making his move. However, he left it too late and finished a metre behind the leaders, finishing with the bronze medal. Charlton then combined with Ernest Henry
, Moss Christie
and Beaurepaire to claim silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay behind the United States. Although Charlton had claimed the lead from the Americans in the second leg, the two following Australians were overwhelmed, losing by nine seconds, with the Americans setting another world record.
After the games, Charlton declared that swimming would take a back seat to his study and work career, and declined offers to tour the United States and Europe. However, he still managed to win the 200 m, 400m and 800 m events at the Tailteann Games
. He resumed studies at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, but did not graduate and subsequently became a station-hand at Kurrumbede station in Gunnedah, in western New South Wales. Charlton limited his training to irregular visits to Sydney
, when he consulted his coach, former Olympic medallist Henry Hay
.
After a two-year absence from competition, he returned to the New South Wales Championships in 1927, setting a world record of 10m 32s in the 880 yd (804.7 m) on his return. He was again victorious in the 440 yd (402.3 m) in an Australian record time of 4m 59.8s. Charlton again returned to his inland job in Gunnedah before returning to Sydney the following year to secure qualification for the 1928 Summer Olympics
in Amsterdam
by winning the 440 yd (402.3 m) New South Wales Championships.
In Amsterdam, in the 1500 m, Charlton finished second behind Borg in his heat, before trailing Buster Crabbe
home in the semifinal. Borg went on to set a new Olympic record to defeat Charlton by 15 m. In the 400 m, Charlton again finished second in both his heat and semifinal. He again claimed the silver medal, finishing behind Argentina
's Alberto Zorrilla
.
After shelving his swimming career on his return to Australia for four years, Charlton again broke the Australian record in both the 440 and 880 yd (804.7 m) freestyle events at the 1932 New South Wales Championships to gain selection for the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
, the oldest member of the team at 25 years of age. He contracted influenza a fortnight
before the Games after arriving in the United States. Charlton raised hopes that he had recovered when he won his heat, but then only managed third place in the semifinal, although he still managed to progress to the final of the 400 m freestyle. Charlton finished in a distant sixth, some ten seconds behind the winner. In the 1500 m event, Charlton finished second in his heat, before coming fifth in his semifinal, resulting in his elimination.
. In 1936 he returned to the land, raising sheep near Tarago, New South Wales
. He married in 1937 and settled on a 12000 acres (48.6 km²) property near Goulburn, where he had a son and daughter. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1972 and died in Sydney of a heart attack at the age of 68. The Sydney Domain Baths
were subsequently renamed in his honour.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n freestyle swimmer
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
of the 1920s and 1930s who won a gold medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He set five world records and also won a further three silver and one bronze medal in his Olympic career.
Early life
Born in North SydneyNorth Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
as the only son of Oswald and Ada Charlton, the accounts of his early life vary. The Australian Dictionary of Biography states that his father was a bank manager, while other accounts suggest that he was raised in low socio-economic conditions and relied on benefactors to support his career. He was raised in the northern seaside suburb of Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
and was educated at Manly Public School and later Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
.
Swimming
Charlton first came to public attention in 1921 when he won a 440yd freestyle race in the open division at a New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Swimming Association competition in 5m 45s. In 1922 Bill Harris
William Harris (swimmer)
William White Harris, Jr. was an American swimmer who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics....
, the bronze medallist in the 100m freestyle at the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
, came to Australia from Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
to compete against the likes of Frank Beaurepaire
Frank Beaurepaire
Sir Francis "Frank" Joseph Edmund Beaurepaire was an Australian distance freestyle swimmer from the 1900s to the 1920s, who won three silver and three bronze medals, from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London to the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, setting 15 world records.He was also a decorated...
and Moss Christie
Moss Christie
Maurice "Moss" Christie was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1920s who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris....
. Charlton defeated Harris at the New South Wales Championships, winning the 440yd in 5m 22.4s. He then set a world record of 11m 5.4s in the 880yd event, as well as winning the one mile race in 23m 43.2s. Charlton used a trudgen
Trudgen
The trudgen is a swimming stroke sometimes known as the racing stroke, or the East Indian stroke. It is named after the English swimmer John Trudgen ....
stroke which embodied characteristics of the modern crawl
Front crawl
The front crawl, forward crawl, or freestyle is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly universally used during a freestyle swimming competition, hence the synonymously used term "freestyle". It is one of two...
stroke, which was at the time in its infancy.
In 1923, the 15-year-old Charlton swam for the first time against Beaurepaire, who had won 35 Australian Championships and had set 15 world records in his career. The Manly Baths was filled to capacity for the 440yd race, with Charlton winning the race by two yards in a time of 5m 20.4s, which led to Beaurepaire predicting that fitness permitting, Charlton would break world records in 1924.
The start of 1924 in Australia was highlighted by the arrival of Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
swimmer Arne Borg
Arne Borg
Claes Arne Borg was a Swedish swimmer. He is best known for breaking 32 world records during the 1920s.He won the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1926...
, at the time the holder of four world records, to compete against the 16-year-old Charlton in the 440yd freestyle at the New South Wales Championships. The Domain Baths were filled to capacity with between 5000 and 8000 spectators, 400m queues forming outside the venue. Borg held the lead for the first half of the race until Charlton drew level, taking the lead at the 320yd mark. Charlton eventually won by 20yds to equal Borg's world record of 5m 11.8s. Charlton was giving a lap of honour as Borg rowed him around the pool in a small boat. They again met in the 880yd and 220yd events, with Charlton winning the former in a world record time of 10m 51.8s and the latter in an Australian record of 2m 23.8s.
Three Olympics
Charlton was selected for the Australian team for the 1924 Summer Olympics1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
and travelled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by sea with his coach, Tom Adriann, who was also appointed the team coach. On the way, Adriann suffered a nervous breakdown, and threw himself overboard. Even though Adriann was rescued, he was left in London while the team travelled to Paris without a coach.
Then, while in Paris, Charlton competed in his first event, the 1500 m freestyle. He won both his heat and his semi-final, qualifying for the final, where he lined up against Borg and Beaurepaire. In the final, Borg immediately claimed the lead and maintained it until the 300 m mark, when Charlton moved alongside him. Charlton forged ahead to lead by 5 metres at the 600 m, before proceeding to defeat Borg by 40 m, while lapping the remainder of the field to win gold in a new world record time of 20m 6.6s. In the 400 m freestyle, Charlton again lined up against Borg, and also Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller was an Austro-Hungarian-born American swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in movies. Weissmuller was one of the world's best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Charlton progressed to the final, finishing second to Weissmuller in both his heat and semi-final. In the final, Charlton, the distance specialist, trailed far behind as Borg and Weissmuller contested the lead. Charlton was eight metres behind at the 150 m mark, before making his move. However, he left it too late and finished a metre behind the leaders, finishing with the bronze medal. Charlton then combined with Ernest Henry
Ernest Henry
Ernest Henry was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1920s, who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. He also competed in the 100m freestyle...
, Moss Christie
Moss Christie
Maurice "Moss" Christie was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1920s who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris....
and Beaurepaire to claim silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay behind the United States. Although Charlton had claimed the lead from the Americans in the second leg, the two following Australians were overwhelmed, losing by nine seconds, with the Americans setting another world record.
After the games, Charlton declared that swimming would take a back seat to his study and work career, and declined offers to tour the United States and Europe. However, he still managed to win the 200 m, 400m and 800 m events at the Tailteann Games
Tailteann Games
The Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of the goddess Tailtiu. They ran from 632 BC to 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion....
. He resumed studies at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, but did not graduate and subsequently became a station-hand at Kurrumbede station in Gunnedah, in western New South Wales. Charlton limited his training to irregular visits to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, when he consulted his coach, former Olympic medallist Henry Hay
Henry Hay
Henry "Harry" Hay was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1920s, who won a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp...
.
After a two-year absence from competition, he returned to the New South Wales Championships in 1927, setting a world record of 10m 32s in the 880 yd (804.7 m) on his return. He was again victorious in the 440 yd (402.3 m) in an Australian record time of 4m 59.8s. Charlton again returned to his inland job in Gunnedah before returning to Sydney the following year to secure qualification for the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
by winning the 440 yd (402.3 m) New South Wales Championships.
In Amsterdam, in the 1500 m, Charlton finished second behind Borg in his heat, before trailing Buster Crabbe
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe was an American athlete and actor, who starred in a number of popular serials in the 1930s and 1940s.-Birth:...
home in the semifinal. Borg went on to set a new Olympic record to defeat Charlton by 15 m. In the 400 m, Charlton again finished second in both his heat and semifinal. He again claimed the silver medal, finishing behind Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
's Alberto Zorrilla
Alberto Zorrilla
Victoriano Alberto Zorilla was an Argentine swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.In the 1928 Olympics he won a gold medal in 400 m freestyle event, was fifth in the 1500 m freestyle event, was seventh in the 100 m freestyle event and was fourth in first round of 4x200 m freestyle relay...
.
After shelving his swimming career on his return to Australia for four years, Charlton again broke the Australian record in both the 440 and 880 yd (804.7 m) freestyle events at the 1932 New South Wales Championships to gain selection for the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the oldest member of the team at 25 years of age. He contracted influenza a fortnight
Fortnight
The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The word derives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights"....
before the Games after arriving in the United States. Charlton raised hopes that he had recovered when he won his heat, but then only managed third place in the semifinal, although he still managed to progress to the final of the 400 m freestyle. Charlton finished in a distant sixth, some ten seconds behind the winner. In the 1500 m event, Charlton finished second in his heat, before coming fifth in his semifinal, resulting in his elimination.
After swimming
Charlton retired upon his arrival in Australia, and in 1934 he opened a pharmacy business in CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. In 1936 he returned to the land, raising sheep near Tarago, New South Wales
Tarago, New South Wales
Tarago is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council. It is situated 39 kilometres south of the city of Goulburn and 69 kilometres northeast of Canberra, the capital city of Australia...
. He married in 1937 and settled on a 12000 acres (48.6 km²) property near Goulburn, where he had a son and daughter. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
in 1972 and died in Sydney of a heart attack at the age of 68. The Sydney Domain Baths
Sydney Domain Baths
-Early years:Since the first European settlement in Sydney there have been 11 different bathing establishments in Wolloomooloo Bay. In the early years, the small sandy beach where the Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Pool now stands was reserved for the exclusive use of the military of NSW including the...
were subsequently renamed in his honour.