Joe Verdeur
Encyclopedia
Joe Verdeur Joe Verdeur was an Olympic Gold medalist in swimming at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He was a graduate of North Catholic High School and La Salle University in Philadelphia PA. In High School Joe led the falcons swim team to 3 consecutive Catholic League Championships & 2 City Titles. He was also a 2 time 1st team All-Catholic swimmer.
During his College career at LaSalle University he set 19 world and 21 American swimming records. As a member of the US Olympic team Verdeur won his Gold medal in the 200 meter breaststroke with a new Olympic record time of 2:39.3. He may well have won more medals in the butterfly and individual medley if these had been included at the time as he was a multiple national champion and record-breaker in both events.
Verdeur was also due to compete in the American 4x200 m freestyle relay team which also won the Gold but Joe gave up his place to teammate Wally Wolf so that Wolf could also receive a Gold Medal. Joe Verdeur was named "Swimmer of the Year" by Sport Magazine in 1948 and 1949. He graduated from LaSalle in 1950 to which Legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice called him "the greatest swimmer of the first half century."
Joe Verdeur was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966, the LaSalle University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961, North Catholic Hall of Fame in 1991, Polish American Hall of Fame, The Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Joe Verdeur died of cancer in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania in 1991 at the age of 65.
During his College career at LaSalle University he set 19 world and 21 American swimming records. As a member of the US Olympic team Verdeur won his Gold medal in the 200 meter breaststroke with a new Olympic record time of 2:39.3. He may well have won more medals in the butterfly and individual medley if these had been included at the time as he was a multiple national champion and record-breaker in both events.
Verdeur was also due to compete in the American 4x200 m freestyle relay team which also won the Gold but Joe gave up his place to teammate Wally Wolf so that Wolf could also receive a Gold Medal. Joe Verdeur was named "Swimmer of the Year" by Sport Magazine in 1948 and 1949. He graduated from LaSalle in 1950 to which Legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice called him "the greatest swimmer of the first half century."
Joe Verdeur was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966, the LaSalle University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961, North Catholic Hall of Fame in 1991, Polish American Hall of Fame, The Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Joe Verdeur died of cancer in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania in 1991 at the age of 65.