Robert J. H. Kiphuth

Robert John Herman Kiphuth (1890-1967) [ [http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/kiphuthrobert.shtml HickokSports.com - Biography - Robert Kiphuth ] ] is best known for his 42-year career as head coach of the Yale University men's swim team, from 1917-1959. During his tenure with Yale Swimming, he amassed a record of 528 wins to only 12 losses, along with 4 NCAA titles (1942, 1944, 1951, 1953), earning him a reputation for being the winningest coach in history.

Kiphuth also served as the head coach for multiple U.S. Olympic swimming teams (both men and women, depending on the year). For a few years near the end of his career, he doubled as Yale's Athletic Director, a job he eventually left to return his focus to coaching. He was largely responsible for the modern sport of swimming, which he shaped by introducing such innovations (now standard practices) as dryland workouts and interval training.

From 1951-1961, Kiphuth was the publisher of Swimming World magazine.

Kiphuth was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by John F. Kennedy in 1963 (President Kennedy also received the Medal of Freedom posthumously at the same ceremony) [ [http://www.medaloffreedom.com/1963Recipients.htm Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients - Remarks With Under Secretary of State George W. Ball at the Presentation of the First Medal of Freedom Awards December 6, 1963 ] ] .

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