Clarke Scholes
Encyclopedia
Clarke Currie Scholes was an American
swimmer
who won an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle at the 1952 Games of Helsinki
; he also won gold at the 1955 Pan American Games
.
In 1948, as a Redford High School
senior, Scholes won Detroit City League titles in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. Although not the fastest swimmer in the state, Clarke Scholes was persuaded to swim collegiately for Michigan State University
, While under the direction of Coach Charles McCaffree, Clarke was transformed into a five-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion in the 100 yard freestyle.
Scholes was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in 1980. In 1992 he was part of the inaugural class 30 inductees into the Michigan State University Sports Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, which honors professional and amateur athletes who have played in, or are from, the state of Michigan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
who won an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter freestyle at the 1952 Games of Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
; he also won gold at the 1955 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
In 1948, as a Redford High School
Redford High School
Redford High School was a secondary educational facility in Detroit, Michigan. The school opened in 1924 and ceased operations in June 2007. Staffed and operated by the Detroit Public Schools; Redford High School served the sub-communities of Old Redford, Grandmont, Rosedale Park and...
senior, Scholes won Detroit City League titles in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. Although not the fastest swimmer in the state, Clarke Scholes was persuaded to swim collegiately for Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, While under the direction of Coach Charles McCaffree, Clarke was transformed into a five-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion in the 100 yard freestyle.
Scholes 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 1980. In 1992 he was part of the inaugural class 30 inductees into the Michigan State University Sports Hall of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, which honors professional and amateur athletes who have played in, or are from, the state of Michigan.