Albert van de Weghe

Albert van de Weghe (July 28, 1916 – August 13, 2002) was an American swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

In the 1936 Olympics he won a silver medal in the 100 m backstroke event. When he was a senior in high school, Vande Weghe won the silver in Berlin to Adolph Kiefer’s gold and, like Kiefer, never achieved his potential in swimming after he went on to serve in WWII. Like Phelps, who perfected the dolphin kick at the turn, he gained advantage in the turn by inventing the flip turn. Kiefer never went to college, and Vande Weghe swam four years without ever losing a meet and won the NCAA’s. Vande Weghe swam for Princeton University where he majored in Chemical Engineering, graduating in 1940. He is a member of swimming's hall of fame.

He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

External links

* [http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=VANDEALB02 profile]