John Marshall (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
John Birnie Marshall was an Australia
n freestyle
swimmer of the 1940s and 1950s who won a silver and bronze medal in the 1500 m and 400 m freestyle respectively at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
. Despite his Olympic results suggesting that he only had a moderate international career, he broke 28 world records.
Born in Bondi, New South Wales
, Marshall made his first headlines as a 16 year old, when he won every event from the 220yd to the 1650yd freestyle at the 1947 Australian Championships. The following year, he was selected for the London Olympics, where he claimed bronze in the 400 m freestyle behind the United States
duo of Bill Smith and Jimmy McLane. He claimed a silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, behind McLane. In Marshall's era, the 200 m freestyle was not part of the Olympics.
McLane's coach, Bob Kiphuth was so impressed by Marshall's performance that he arranged for Marshall to study and swim under him at Yale University
. Under Kiphuth's rigorous guidance, Marshall set 19 world records, 15 of them in just one month.
However, Marshall peaked too soon between Olympics, and was burnt out by the time of the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
. He failed to qualify for the final of the 400 m, and finished an ignominious last in the 1500 m freestyle, more than 41 seconds behind the second-last finisher.
Marshall made a third attempt at Olympic glory at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
. At the age of 26, he had given up freestyle, and placed his efforts in the newly created butterfly stroke. Although he reached the finals of the 200 m butterfly, he finished fifth behind American William Yorzyk
. A few weeks later, Marshall was killed in a car accident.
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
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 1940s and 1950s who won a silver and bronze medal in the 1500 m and 400 m freestyle respectively at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Despite his Olympic results suggesting that he only had a moderate international career, he broke 28 world records.
Born in Bondi, New South Wales
Bondi, New South Wales
Bondi is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bondi is located seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council. The postcode is 2026.-Location:...
, Marshall made his first headlines as a 16 year old, when he won every event from the 220yd to the 1650yd freestyle at the 1947 Australian Championships. The following year, he was selected for the London Olympics, where he claimed bronze in the 400 m freestyle behind the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
duo of Bill Smith and Jimmy McLane. He claimed a silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, behind McLane. In Marshall's era, the 200 m freestyle was not part of the Olympics.
McLane's coach, Bob Kiphuth was so impressed by Marshall's performance that he arranged for Marshall to study and swim under him at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. Under Kiphuth's rigorous guidance, Marshall set 19 world records, 15 of them in just one month.
However, Marshall peaked too soon between Olympics, and was burnt out by the time of the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in 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 failed to qualify for the final of the 400 m, and finished an ignominious last in the 1500 m freestyle, more than 41 seconds behind the second-last finisher.
Marshall made a third attempt at Olympic glory at 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
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. At the age of 26, he had given up freestyle, and placed his efforts in the newly created butterfly stroke. Although he reached the finals of the 200 m butterfly, he finished fifth behind American William Yorzyk
William Yorzyk
William Albert Yorzyk is a former butterfly swimmer from the United States. At the 1956 Summer Olympics he was the first to win the gold medal in the 200 m butterfly competition....
. A few weeks later, Marshall was killed in a car accident.