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Swimming Biography

Johnny Weissmuller

“Tarzan”

American · Chicago, USA · Born 2 June 1904

Freestyle (Sprint)
3
olympic golds
67
world records
12
tarzan films
1924-28
games

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American swimming and acting legend who won three Olympic gold medals and set 67 world records, transforming swimming into a major sport while simultaneously starring as Tarzan in a legendary Hollywood career.

Johnny Weissmuller was the greatest swimmer of his era, winning five Olympic gold medals across 1924 and 1928 and setting 67 world records. A man of extraordinary natural power in the water, his freestyle technique and competitive dominance made him the benchmark for swimming for a decade. He later became even more famous as the actor who played Tarzan in 12 Hollywood films.

Famous For

Five Olympic gold medals and multiple world records in freestyle swimming

Playing Style

How They Played

Powerful freestyle technique with revolutionary high stroke rate

Legacy

Lasting Impact

Dominated sprint freestyle swimming in 1920s, later became famous as Tarzan actor

Career Journey

Timeline

1922 📌 First major competition debut
1924 🏆 Won 3 Olympic golds at Paris Olympics
1925 🎯 Set world record in 100m freestyle
1927 🎯 Broke own 100m freestyle world record
1928 🏆 Won 2 Olympic golds at Amsterdam Olympics
1929 📌 Retired from competitive swimming
Career Timeline — Johnny Weissmuller
1922
First major competition debut
1924
Won 3 Olympic golds at Paris Olympics
1925
Set world record in 100m freestyle
1927
Broke own 100m freestyle world record
1928
Won 2 Olympic golds at Amsterdam Olympics
1929
Retired from competitive swimming
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