John Konrads
Encyclopedia
John Konrads is an retired Australian freestyle
swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won the 1500 m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome. In his career, he set 26 individual world records, and after his swimming career ended, was the Australasia
n director of L'Oréal
, as well as campaigning for the Sydney Olympics bid
. Along with his sister Ilsa Konrads
, who also set multiple world records, they were known as the Konrad Kids.
Born in Riga
, Latvia, Konrads emigrated with his parents Janis and Elza, grandmother, elder sister Eve and younger sister Ilsa in August 1944, initially staying in Germany. This came after occupation of Latvia by German troops during the Second World War and then re-occupation by Soviet troops. Living in Germany until 1949, their application to immigrate to the United States was refused on account of the large size of the family. Instead, Australia accepted them. They were first located at Greta migrants' camp near Maitland
and then were relocated to a camp at Uranquinty, in rural western New South Wales
, at what had been a base for the Royal Australian Air Force
. There his father Janis taught the children to swim, fearing that they could drown in the many watering holes and dams in the camp. After spending four weeks in hospital due to a polio contraction, Konrads swam therapeutically to rebuild strength.
His father Janis secured a job in Sydney as a dentist, and the family settled first in Pennant Hills
and then Bankstown
. Elza enrolled in the University of Sydney
's dentistry program, as her qualification from the University of Riga was not recognised, but withdrew due to the demands of raising three children. Konrads and his siblings attended Revesby Primary School, where one of the schoolteachers was Don Talbot
. Talbot was an assistant to Frank Guthrie
as the Bankstown Swimming Pool. Konrads joined the club in the 1953–1954 season, winning the junior 880yd freestyle. His first national title came in 1956, winning the junior 440yd freestyle. This led to Konrads being selected for the team to attend the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne, although as a reserve he did not compete in any form.
Every day, John and his younger sister Ilsa cycled to the Bankstown pool before sunrise, for a two-hour training session, before returning home for breakfast and then attending school. After school, they would cycle back to the pool and repeat the training regimen. In 1958, the results of his training began to materialise, when he started to win his first national titles and break his first world records. In Sydney in January, in the space of eight days, he broke world records in the 200 m, 220yd, 400 m, 440yd, 800 m and 800yd, for a total of six world records. He set another eight in February and March, including a 1500 m and 1650yd world record, and proceeded to win the 220yd, 440yd and 1650yd freestyle at the Australian Championships. At the 1958 Empire Games
in Cardiff
, he won the 440yd and 1650yd and then combined with John Devitt
, Gary Chapman
and Brian Wilkinson to claim the 4x220yd freestyle. In 1959 he broke six world records in the same six events as he did in January the previous year, and was the first person to sweep the freestyle events from 110yd to 1650yd at the Australian Championships, winning the Helms Award
. He decided in conjunction with Talbot to concentrate on the 400 m and 1500 m events for the Olympics, and in 1960, at the Australian championships, set world records in the 400 m, 440yd, 1500 m and 1650yd events. He also won the 220yd event in world record time, but it was not an Olympic event at the time.
had returned from the United States to compete, and qualified fastest for the 400 m final, although well outside Konrads' mark. Konrads held the lead in the final until the halfway mark, when Rose attacked and Konrads deviated from his raceplan. Rose went on to win in 4 m 18.3s while Konrads was third in 4 m 21.8s, well outside his world record of 4 m 15.9s. In the 1500 m final, Konrads qualified second as Rose set an Olympic record in the final. Although George Breen
of the United States had attacked early, Konrads stuck to his raceplan and overhauled him to win in an Olympic record time of 17 m 19.6s, with Rose second. In the 4x200 m freestyle relay, Konrads combined with Devitt, Rose and David Dickson
to claim a bronze medal behind the United States and Japan. In Olympic training at the Tobruk Pool
, Townsville, Queensland
, the Australians had broken the world record for this event, but without teammate Jon Henricks
, who withdrew due to illness, they were not able to keep pace with the Americans who claimed both the gold and the world record.
After the games, Konrads accepted a swimming scholarship at the University of Southern California
, where his performances decreased over time. Upon returning to Australia to qualify for the 1964 Summer Olympics
, he managed only qualification for the 4x200 m freestyle relay team. He only swam in the heats, and watched from the stands as another Australian, Bob Windle
, claimed his 1500 m title. After retirement, Konrads became a swimming coach, and with his marketing degree from USC, he eventually rose to the Australasian directorship of L'Oréal
. He later established a consultancy and advertising firm.
He has also publicly revealed his struggles with Bipolar Disorder
, and sought to raise public awareness with features on Australian television.
In 1984, Konrads had one of his gold medals (1500-metre freestyle-1960 Rome Olympics) stolen from his Melbourne home. It was found 25 years later after a woman tried to sell it to an American sports enthusiast. The woman purchased that gold medal at a bric-a-brac
sale in Brisbane
. The returned medal is now on loan for display at the National Sports Museum
in Melbourne. In 2011, John Konrads decided to auction his collection of swimming memorabilia, including his medals.
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...
swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won the 1500 m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome. In his career, he set 26 individual world records, and after his swimming career ended, was the Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
n director of L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
, as well as campaigning for the Sydney Olympics bid
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Along with his sister Ilsa Konrads
Ilsa Konrads
Ilsa Konrads was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1950s and 1960s, who won silver in the 4x100 m freestyle relay at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In her career, she set 12 individual world records, and after her swimming career ended, was the Australasian editor of Belle...
, who also set multiple world records, they were known as the Konrad Kids.
Early life
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia, Konrads emigrated with his parents Janis and Elza, grandmother, elder sister Eve and younger sister Ilsa in August 1944, initially staying in Germany. This came after occupation of Latvia by German troops during the Second World War and then re-occupation by Soviet troops. Living in Germany until 1949, their application to immigrate to the United States was refused on account of the large size of the family. Instead, Australia accepted them. They were first located at Greta migrants' camp near Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
and then were relocated to a camp at Uranquinty, in rural western New South Wales
New 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...
, at what had been a base for the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. There his father Janis taught the children to swim, fearing that they could drown in the many watering holes and dams in the camp. After spending four weeks in hospital due to a polio contraction, Konrads swam therapeutically to rebuild strength.
His father Janis secured a job in Sydney as a dentist, and the family settled first in Pennant Hills
Pennant Hills, New South Wales
Pennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
and then Bankstown
Bankstown, New South Wales
Bankstown is a suburb of south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bankstown is located 20 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Bankstown.-History:Prior to European...
. Elza enrolled in the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
's dentistry program, as her qualification from the University of Riga was not recognised, but withdrew due to the demands of raising three children. Konrads and his siblings attended Revesby Primary School, where one of the schoolteachers was Don Talbot
Don Talbot
Don Talbot OBE is an Olympic swimming coach from Australia. He has coached national teams for Canada and Australia.-Canada:Since the 1950s Talbot has coached Olympic champions and World Record holders for a thirty year period...
. Talbot was an assistant to Frank Guthrie
Frank Guthrie
Frank Edward Huntingdon Guthrie was an England born South African international rugby union half-back. Although born in Notting Hill, London, Guthrie was educated at Diocesan College in Cape Town, where he also played provincial rugby for Western Province...
as the Bankstown Swimming Pool. Konrads joined the club in the 1953–1954 season, winning the junior 880yd freestyle. His first national title came in 1956, winning the junior 440yd freestyle. This led to Konrads being selected for the team to attend the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne, although as a reserve he did not compete in any form.
Every day, John and his younger sister Ilsa cycled to the Bankstown pool before sunrise, for a two-hour training session, before returning home for breakfast and then attending school. After school, they would cycle back to the pool and repeat the training regimen. In 1958, the results of his training began to materialise, when he started to win his first national titles and break his first world records. In Sydney in January, in the space of eight days, he broke world records in the 200 m, 220yd, 400 m, 440yd, 800 m and 800yd, for a total of six world records. He set another eight in February and March, including a 1500 m and 1650yd world record, and proceeded to win the 220yd, 440yd and 1650yd freestyle at the Australian Championships. At the 1958 Empire Games
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18–26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, he won the 440yd and 1650yd and then combined with John Devitt
John Devitt
John Thomas Devitt was an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won a gold medal in the 100 m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He won in controversial circumstances, being awarded the gold medal despite the timekeepers recording a slower time than the silver medallist...
, Gary Chapman
Gary Chapman (swimmer)
Gary Arthur Chapman was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1950s who won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics...
and Brian Wilkinson to claim the 4x220yd freestyle. In 1959 he broke six world records in the same six events as he did in January the previous year, and was the first person to sweep the freestyle events from 110yd to 1650yd at the Australian Championships, winning the Helms Award
Helms Award
The Helms Award is an annual sporting award given to the most Outstanding Australasian Athlete.-Past winners:1919 - [Harold Clive Disher] *1920 - Ivo Whitton - golfer*1932 - [Edgar L...
. He decided in conjunction with Talbot to concentrate on the 400 m and 1500 m events for the Olympics, and in 1960, at the Australian championships, set world records in the 400 m, 440yd, 1500 m and 1650yd events. He also won the 220yd event in world record time, but it was not an Olympic event at the time.
Rome Olympics and beyond
At the Olympics in Rome, fellow Australian and defending 400 m and 1500 m champion Murray RoseMurray Rose
Iain Murray Rose AM was born on 6 January 1939 in Nairn, Scotland, but he moved to Australia with his family at an early age after World War II. He took up swimming as a boy and was an Olympic Games champion at age 17....
had returned from the United States to compete, and qualified fastest for the 400 m final, although well outside Konrads' mark. Konrads held the lead in the final until the halfway mark, when Rose attacked and Konrads deviated from his raceplan. Rose went on to win in 4 m 18.3s while Konrads was third in 4 m 21.8s, well outside his world record of 4 m 15.9s. In the 1500 m final, Konrads qualified second as Rose set an Olympic record in the final. Although George Breen
George Breen
George Breen is a retired freestyle swimmer from the United States, who has won four Olympic medals in his career. Breen twice broke the world record in the 1500 m freestyle....
of the United States had attacked early, Konrads stuck to his raceplan and overhauled him to win in an Olympic record time of 17 m 19.6s, with Rose second. In the 4x200 m freestyle relay, Konrads combined with Devitt, Rose and David Dickson
David Dickson (swimmer)
David Dickson was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won three bronze medals in freestyle and medley relay events at the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Rome and Tokyo respectively.-1960 Summer Olympics:Dickson was selected to make his international debut at...
to claim a bronze medal behind the United States and Japan. In Olympic training at the Tobruk Pool
Tobruk Memorial Baths
The Tobruk Memorial Baths in Townsville, Australia is a complex of outdoor swimming pools operated by the Townsville City Council. It is located on The Strand, in the beachside suburb of North Ward.-Facilities:...
, Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, the Australians had broken the world record for this event, but without teammate Jon Henricks
Jon Henricks
John Malcolm Henricks started his swimming career as a distance swimmer, scoring his first real successes in 1952 when he came in 3rd in the Australian 1500 meters, 2nd in the 800, and won the 400 meters. The distance work proved too arduous, perhaps due to a prolonged ear infection that kept...
, who withdrew due to illness, they were not able to keep pace with the Americans who claimed both the gold and the world record.
After the games, Konrads accepted a swimming scholarship at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, where his performances decreased over time. Upon returning to Australia to qualify for the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, he managed only qualification for the 4x200 m freestyle relay team. He only swam in the heats, and watched from the stands as another Australian, Bob Windle
Bob Windle
Robert George "Bob" Windle is a former Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won four Olympic medals, including an individual gold medal...
, claimed his 1500 m title. After retirement, Konrads became a swimming coach, and with his marketing degree from USC, he eventually rose to the Australasian directorship of L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
. He later established a consultancy and advertising firm.
He has also publicly revealed his struggles with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
, and sought to raise public awareness with features on Australian television.
In 1984, Konrads had one of his gold medals (1500-metre freestyle-1960 Rome Olympics) stolen from his Melbourne home. It was found 25 years later after a woman tried to sell it to an American sports enthusiast. The woman purchased that gold medal at a bric-a-brac
Bric-a-brac
Bric-à-brac , first used in the Victorian era, refers to collections of curios such as elaborately decorated teacups and small vases, feathers, wax flowers under glass domes, eggshells, statuettes, painted miniatures or photographs, and so on...
sale in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. The returned medal is now on loan for display at the National Sports Museum
National Sports Museum
The National Sports Museum is a museum dedicated to Australian sport and is located within the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. It features exhibitions and galleries of items related mainly to Australian Rules Football, Cricket, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Sport...
in Melbourne. In 2011, John Konrads decided to auction his collection of swimming memorabilia, including his medals.
See also
- World record progression 200 metres freestyleWorld record progression 200 metres freestyleThis is a history of the World Record in the 200 Freestyle swimming event. Swimming World Records are recognized by FINA in either long-course or short-course pool courses....
- World record progression 400 metres freestyleWorld record progression 400 metres freestyleThe first world record in the men's 400 metres freestyle in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908. In the short course swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since 3 March 1991.-Long course:-Short course:-Long...
- World record progression 800 metres freestyleWorld record progression 800 metres freestyleThe first world record in the men's 800 metres freestyle in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908...
- World record progression 1500 metres freestyleWorld record progression 1500 metres freestyleThe first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908...