Johnny Weissmuller:
His Sports Record



Established 67 world records

Won 52 national championships

Earned five Olympic gold medals

Won the Chicago Marathon Race twice

Voted the greatest swimmer of the first half century

Awarded the Helms Hall of Fame three times

Founding Chairman of the International Swimming Hall of Fame,
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Inducted into the Cambria County War Memorial Sports Hall of Fame in 1967

Received the Sportsmen's World Award for Swimming in 1968

Received the American Patriot Award in 1971

Awarded special sterling silver Olympic medals at the Olympic Games
in Munich 1972

Declared Sportsworld King in 1972

Received Dewars Merit Award for "Sports Immortal" in 1972

Declared an undefeated "King of Swimming"
by the International Palace of Sports in 1974

Inducted into the Windber Hall of Fame in 1979

Inducted into the American Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983

 

Note. If you know of any other awards related to Johnny's swimming career, please let me know, and I'll add it to the list. He did receive many honorary awards later in life.


Below I have reproduced the detailed records found in the Appendix of Water, World and Weissmuller, written by Narda Onyx.

JOHN WEISSMULLER
His Swimming Records and Achievements
Compiled by W. R. "Bill" Schroeder
Managing Director Helms Athletic Foundation

OLYMPIC GAMES
GOLD MEDALS WON - NEW OLYMPIC RECORDS

1924 (Paris, France)

100-Meters Freestyle champion... :59 seconds
400-Meters Freestyle champion... 5:04.2 minutes
800-Meters U.S.A. Relay Team champion... 9:53.4 minutes

1928 Amsterdam, Holland)

100-Meters Freestyle champion... :58.6 seconds
800-Meters U.S.A. Relay team champion... 9:36.2 minutes

SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS

1922 - American Swimmer of the Year (Chosen by Helms Athletic Foundation) This is a non-repeat award.
           Weissmuller, if eligible might also have won for each of the next five years.
1923 - Helms World Trophy Winner (Athlete of the Year, North America)
1949 - Helms Swimming Hall of Fame (Elected by Helms Hall Board)
1950 - Greatest Swimmer of the First Half-Century - 1900-1950 (Chosen by the Associated Press)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

OUTDOOR

INDOOR

EVENT

YEAR

TIME

EVENT

YEAR

TIME

50-yards
50-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
220-yards
220-yards
440-yards
440-yards
440-yards
440-yards
440-yards
440-yards

1921
1922
1922
1923
1925
1926
1927
1928
1921
1922
1922
1923
1925
1926
1927
1928

   23.2
   23.0
   52.8
   54.6
   52.0
   59.6
   58.0
   57.8
2:28.0
2:22.4
5:16.4
5:37.4
5:22.5
5:21.8
4:52.0
4:58.6

50-yards
50-yards
50-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
Pentathlon
Pentathlon
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
500-yards
500-yards
500-yards
500-yards
500-yards
150-yards (Backstroke)

1923
1924
1925
1922
1923
1924
1925
1927
1928
1922
1923
1922
1923
1924
1927
1928
1922
1923
1924
1927
1928
1923

   23.6
   24.0
   23.2
   54.0
   54.8
   53.8
   52.2
   51.4
   50.8

(Tied)
2:17.4
2:22.0
2:14.8
2:10.8
2:10.4
5:46.8
5:43.6
5:50.4
5:28.4
5:35.0
1:42.0

OUTDOOR

INDOOR

RELAY

YEAR

TIME

RELAY

YEAR

TIME

880-yards
880-yards
880-yards
880-yards
880-yards
880-yards
880-yards

1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1927
1928

10:05.4
(No Time)
11:12.0
  9:43.0
10:22.2
  9:35.0
  9:32.6

300-yards Medley
300-yards Medley
200-yards
200-yards
400-yards
400-yards
400-yards
400-yards
400-yards

1927
1928
1922
1924
1922
1923
1924
1925
1928

3:06.2
3:05.6
1:39.2
1:38.8
3:43.6
3:42.0
3:41.4
3:45.0
3:32.6

WATER POLO

1924

WATER POLO

1927

 

WORLD RECORDS — 20-YARD POOL

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

100-yards
100-yards
150-yards
200-meters
220-yards
220-yards
400-meters
400-meters
440-yards
440-yards
500-yards
500-yards
150-yards (Backstroke)

Chicago, Illinois
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Honolulu, Hawaii
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois

Nov. 21, 1921
March 19, 1923
April 6, 1922
Jan. 4, 1923
May 26, 1922
Jan. 4, 1923
April 6, 1922
Feb. 1, 1923
April 6, 1922
Feb. 1, 1923
April 6, 1922
Feb. 1, 1923
April 4, 1923

   52.6
   51.8
1:25.4
2:14.0
2:15.6
2:14.0
5:05.2
4:51.4
5:05.2
4:51.4
5:46.8
5:42.0
1:42.0

 

WORLD RECORDS — 25-YARD POOL

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

50-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
150-yards
150-yards
200-meters
200-meters
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
300-yards
300-yards
300-meters
500-yards
500-meters
100-yards (Backstroke)
100-meters (Backstroke)
150-yards (Backstroke)

Columbus, Ohio
Honolulu, Hawaii
Miami Beach, Florida
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Brighton Beach, New York
Culver (Ind.) Mil. Acad.
Miami Beach, Flroida
Brighton Beach, New York
Pittsburgh, PA
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Honolulu, Hawaii
McKeesport, PA
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Philadelphia, PA
Chicago, Illinois
Philadelphia, PA
Great Lakes, Illinois
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Aug. 1, 1922
May 27, 1922
Feb. 17, 1924
April 5, 1927
Sept. 27, 1921
May 2, 1922
Feb. 24, 1924
Sept. 27, 1921
Dec. 7, 1925
May 26, 1922
June 5, 1927
May 26, 1922
Dec. 9, 1925
June 5, 1927
March 25, 1922
June 17, 1927
March 25, 1922
June 27, 1923
Sept. 30, 1922
Nove. 4, 1922
Nov. 4, 1922
April 20, 1922

   22.8
   52.6
   52.4
   51.0
1:00.4
    59.4
   57.4
1:27.4
1:25.4
2:15.6
2:08.0
2:15.6
2:15.2
2:09.0
3:16.6
3:07.8
3:35.2
5:50.4
6:24.2
1:05.4
1:12.6
1:45.4

 

WORLD RECORDS — 100-YARD OR 100-METER POOL

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

100-yards
100-yards
100-meters
100-meters
440-yards
440-yards
400-meters
880-yards

Honolulu, Hawaii
Seattle, Washington
Alameda, California
Amsterdam, Holland
New Haven, Connecticut
Honolulu, Hawaii
New Haven, Connecticut
Honolulu, Hawaii

June 23, 1923
Aug. 1, 1925
July 9, 1922
1928
March 6, 1923
Aug. 25, 1927
March 6, 1923
Aug. 27, 1927

   52.8
   52.0
   58.6
   58.6
4:57.0
4:52.0
4:57.0
10:22.2

 

WORLD RECORDS — OPEN WATER

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

100-yards
150-yards
200-meters
220-yards
300-meters
400-meters
440-yards
500-yards

Honolulu, Hawaii
Atlanta, Georgia
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii

June 23, 1922
Sept. 9, 1922
June 24, 1922
June 24, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922

52.8
1:27.8
2:17.2
2:18.4
3:45.0
5:06.6
5:07.8
5:47.6

 

AMERICAN RECORDS — 20-YARD COURSE

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

50-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
120-yards
150-yards
150-yards
200-yards
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
300-yards
440-yards
440-yards
400-meters
500-yards
500-yards
500-yards
100-yards (Backstroke)
100-yards (Backstroke)
150-yards (Backstroke)
Relay (400 yards)
Relay (400 yards)
Relay (400 yards)
Relay (500 yards)
Relay (300 yds. - Medley)
Relay (300 yds. - Medley)

Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Omaha, Nebraska
Chicago, Illinois
Cleveland, Ohio
Chicago, Illinois
New York City, New York
Chicago, Illinois
Homestead, PA
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois

Jan. 8, 1925
Nov. 21, 1921
March 13, 1923
May 10, 1924
Dec. 3, 1925
Jan. 29, 1926
Jan. 6, 1927
Sept. 27, 1921
April 6, 1922
Dec. 10, 1925
Feb. 10, 1926
Feb. 2, 1922
Aug. 13, 1922
Jan. 4, 1923
Jan. 7, 1926
Feb. 3, 1927
Jan. 3, 1924
April 6, 1922
Feb. 1, 1923
April 6, 1922
April 6, 1922
Feb. 1, 1923
April 8, 1927
Dec. 7, 1922
Feb. 4, 1926
April 4, 1923
March 2, 1922
March 1, 1923
April 3, 1928
April 3, 1928
April 5, 1927
April 4, 1928

   22.8
   52.6
   51.8
   51.4
   51.2
   51.2
   49.8
1:08.4
1:25.4
1:25.0
1:58.4
2:18.4
2:18.4
2:14.0
2:10.4
2:08.6
3:12.4
5:05.2
4:51.4
5:05.2
5:46.8
5:42.0
5:28.4
1:05.6
1:01.8
1:42.0
3:42.4
3:39.6
3:32.6
4:28.2
3:06.2
3:05.6

AMERICAN RECORDS — SHORT COURSE

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
150-yards
150-yards
150-yards
200-yards
220-yards
220-yards
220-yards
200-meters
200-meters
200-meters
300-yards
300-yards
300-yards
300-meters
300-meters
440-yards
440-yards
400-meters
400-meters
500-yards
500-yards
500-meters
500-meters
100-yards (Backstroke)
100-yards (Backstroke)
100-meters (Backstroke)
150-yards (Backstroke)
Relay (200 yards)
Relay (200 yards)
Relay (400 yards)
Relay (500 yards)
Relay (250 yards)

Honolulu, Hawaii
Miami Beach, Florida
San Francisco, California
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Brighton beach, New York
Culver (Ind.) Mil. Acad.
Chicago, Illinois
Miami Beach, Florida
Brighton Beach, New York
St. Louis, Missouri
Pittsburgh, PA
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Honolulu, Hawaii
McKeesport, PA
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Culver (Ind.) Mil. Acad.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Philadelphia, PA
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicago, Illinois
Philadelphia, PA
Chicago, Illinois
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
New Haven, Connecticut
Maui, Hawaii
New Haven, Connecticut
Maui, Hawaii
Great Lakes, Illinois
Sacramento, California
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Detroit, Michigan
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicago, Illinois
Brooklyn, New York
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
New York City, New York
New York City, New York
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 27, 1922
Feb. 17, 1924
Aug. 10, 1925
June 5, 1927
Sept. 27, 1921
May 2, 1922
Nov. 7, 1923
Feb. 24, 1924
Sept. 27, 1921
July 2, 1925
Dec. 7, 1925
May 4, 1927
May 26, 1922
Dec. 9, 1925
May 4, 1927
April 15, 1922
May 26, 1922
May 4, 1927
March 25, 1922
Nov. 11, 1925
June 17, 1927
May 25, 1922
Oct. 24, 1927
Sept. 30, 1922
March 6, 1922
June 1, 1922
March 6, 1922
June 1, 1922
June 27, 1923
July 10, 1922
Sept. 30, 1922
Nov. 4, 1922
Jan. 30, 1926
Nov. 4, 1922
April 20, 1922
Jan. 18, 1924
April 1, 1922
March 17, 1923
March 29, 1922
March 29, 1922
March 17, 1923

   52.6
   52.4
   52.0
   51.0
1:00.4
   59.4
   59.2
   57.4
1:27.4
1:26.3
1:25.4
1:56.8
2:15.6
2:15.2
2:09.0
2:16.0
2:15.6
2:08.0
3:16.6
3:14.0
3:07.8
3:35.2
3:31.0
5:08.0
4:57.0
5:08.2
4:57.0
5:52.0
5:50.4
6:42.6
6:24.2
1:05.4
1:03.4
1:12.6
1:45.4
1:44.8
1:39.2
1:37.2
3:43.6
4:41.8
2:02.6

AMERICAN RECORDS — LONG COURSE

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

50-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-yards
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
150-yards
200-yards
220-yards
220-yards
200-meters
200-meters
300-meters
400-meters
400-meters
440-yards
440-yards
800-meters
880-yards
Relay (880 yards)

Columbus, Ohio
New York City, New York
Indianapolis, Indiana
Seattle, Washington
Alameda, California
Amsterdam, Holland
Honolulu, Hawaii
San Francisco, California
Honolulu, Hawaii
Detroit, Michigan
Geauga Lake, Ohio
Honolulu, Hawaii
Coral Gables, Florida
Honolulu, Hawaii
Coral Gables, Florida
New Haven, Connecticut
Honolulu, Hawaii
New Haven, Connecticut
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii

Aug. 1, 1922
Sept. 24, 1921
Aug. 10, 1922
Aug. 1, 1925
July 9, 1922
1928
Aug. 24, 1927
June 7, 1928
Nov. 14, 1928
Aug. 4, 1927
July 11, 1926
Aug. 26, 1927
Jan. 3,1926
Aug. 26, 1927
Nov. 29, 1925
March 6, 1923
Aug. 25, 1927
March 6, 1923
Aug. 25, 1927
Aug. 27, 1927
Aug. 27, 1927
Aug. 26, 1927

     22.8
     53.2
     52.8
     52.0
     58.6
     58.6
     58.0
     57.8
  1:26.0
  2:01.2
  2:17.0
  2:13.6
  2:16.2
  2:13.6
  3:42.2
  4:57.0
  4:52.0
  4:57.0
  4:52.0
10:22.2
10:22.2
  9:20.2

AMERICAN RECORDS — OPEN WATER

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

100-yards
150-yards
200-yards
200-meters
220-yards
300-yards
300-meters
400-meters
440-yards
500-yards
500-meters
Relay (400 yards)

Honolulu, Hawaii
Atlanta, Georgia
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois

June 23, 1922
Sept. 9, 1922
June 24, 1922
June 24, 1922
June 24, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922
June 22, 1922
July 4, 1923
Aug. 27, 1921

    52:8
1::27.8
2:03.8
2:17.2
2:18.4
3:23.6
3:45.0
5:06.6
5:07.8
5:47.6
6::55.0
3::51.0

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES — 20-YARD POOL

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

40-yards
50-yards
60-yards
80-yards
100-meters
100-meters
100-meters
110-yards
110-yards
110-yards
120-yards
200-yards
200-yards
300-meters
400-yards
Relay (160 yards)
Relay (160 yards)
Relay (160 yards)

Buffalo, New York
Chicago, Illinois
New York City, New York
South Bend, Indiana
Buffalo, New York
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Buffalo, New York
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois

Dec. 1, 1922
Jan. 8, 1925
March 31, 1922
Oct. 26, 1923
Dec. 1, 1922
Dec. 6, 1923
March 1, 1928
Dec. 1, 1922
Dec. 14, 1923
March 1, 1928
March 1, 1928
April 5, 1923
Feb. 10, 1926
March 6, 1924
Feb. 7, 1924
Feb. 2, 1922
Feb. 7, 1922
Feb. 2, 1928

   18.0
   22.8
   29.6
   40.8
1:00.8
   58.6
   57.0
1:00.8
   59.2
   57.0
1:02.6
1:59.2
1:58.4
3:34.0
4:30.6
1:16.0
1:14.8
1:14.2

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES — SHORT COURSE

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

110-yards
120-yards
200-yards
200-yards
200-yards
220-yards
250-yards
250-yards
400-yards
100-meters (Backstroke)
Relay (300 yards)
Relay (600 yards)

Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Philadelphia, PA
San Francisco, California
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Honolulu, Hawaii
Philadelphia, PA
St. Lousi, Missouri
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Toledo, Ohio
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
New York City, New York

July 15, 1922
July 15, 1922
March 25, 192225
Aug. 10, 1927
May 4, 1922
May 26, 1922
March 25, 1922
April 30, 1924
Sept. 30, 1922
Jan. 28, 1926
March 17, 1923
March 29, 1922

   58.4
1:06.4
2:05.2
2:00.2
1:56.8
2:15.6
2:41.0
2:37.0
4:40.0
1:10.4
2:28.4
5:30.6

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES — LONG COURSE

EVENT

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

50-yards
80-yards
200-yards
75-yards (Backstroke)
Relay (800 meters)
Relay (880 yards)
Relay (880 yards)

Columbus, Ohio
Indianapolis, Indiana
Detroit, Michigan
Columbus, Ohio
Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Philadelphia, PA

Aug.1, 1922
Aug. 10, 1922
Aug. 4, 1927
Aug. 1, 1922
Sept. 9, 1923 (Open Water)
Sept. 9, 1923 (Open Water)
July 31, 1926 (Pool)

     22.8
     40.6
  2:01.2
     46.6
10:05.4
11:05.4
  9:48.6