William Yorzyk
Encyclopedia
William Albert Yorzyk (born 29 May 1933) 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.
During his career he set eleven world records during his career, and won the U.S. National Outdoor butterfly title four times form 1955 through 1958. He won the U.S. AAU Indoor 220 yd. butterfly in 1958 while attending medical school in Toronto, then continued to swim as player-coach of the Toronto team winning Canadian Intercollegiate and open titles in 1958-59.
Canada allows graduate students to swim intercollegiate and Yorzyk won the Bickle Prize for the University of Toronto
's top scholar athlete in 1958 and 1959. Yorzyk was honoured in 1971 when he became an honoree member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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...
he was the first to win the gold medal in the 200 m butterfly competition.
During his career he set eleven world records during his career, and won the U.S. National Outdoor butterfly title four times form 1955 through 1958. He won the U.S. AAU Indoor 220 yd. butterfly in 1958 while attending medical school in Toronto, then continued to swim as player-coach of the Toronto team winning Canadian Intercollegiate and open titles in 1958-59.
Canada allows graduate students to swim intercollegiate and Yorzyk won the Bickle Prize for the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's top scholar athlete in 1958 and 1959. Yorzyk was honoured in 1971 when he became an honoree member of 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...
.