Alan Ford (swimmer)

Alan Ford (born December 7, 1923) is an American swimmer.

In 1944, Alan became the first person to swim 100 yards freestyle in less than 50 seconds. This performance was unequaled for eight years. Alan had already broken the 51-second record Johnny Weissmuller set and held for 16 years.

During his senior year at Yale University, he was the captain of Yale's swim team.

In 1944, when Alan was in the prime of his swimming career, the Olympics were cancelled because of WWII. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Alan came out of retirement and won a silver medal at the 1948 Olympics. Alan was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966.

After permanently retiring from swimming, Alan Ford went on to become a successful and a well respected mechanical engineer.

To this day, his swimming talents can still be admired in the block buster movie hit of the 1940's, "Blue Winners" ( [http://www.ishof.org/video_archive/swimming/alan_ford.htm watch] ).

References

* [http://www.databasesports.com/olympics/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FORDALA01 Alan Ford's profile at databaseOlympics]

External links

* [http://www.ishof.org/honorees/66/66aford.html Alan Ford] at the International Swimming Hall of Fame