The Most Memorable Moments in Olympic Swimming

Every four years the summer Olympic Games capture the world's attention. Over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries gather to prove they are the best in their sports. From the first competition held in 1896 to the 2012 London Olympics, the games have hosted some of swimming's greatest victories and toughest defeats. Fans have witnessed Johnny Weissmuller win back-to-back Olympic gold medals before he found fame on the big screen as Tarzan; they have seen Dara Torres defy age to win three silver medals at the age of 41; and they will forever remember Michael Phelps capturing a record eight gold medals at the 2008 games.
The Most Memorable Moments in Olympic Swimming relives the sport's greatest moments on its biggest stage. Through careful research and the personal recollections from the athletes themselves, John Lohn has brought together the key performances, top athletes, major controversies, and improbable victories of the games. Organized chronologically, the progression of swimming as an Olympic sport comes to life as the top 25 moments are revealed. The best swimmers in Olympic history are featured throughout, from Mark Spitz and Ian Thorpe to Debbie Meyer and Dawn Fraser.
Dozens of photographs highlight the athletes and their shared passion for swimming glory. Detailed appendixes include the top Olympic medal winners by country and by athlete, and a bibliography provides key swimming references for the reader. Swimming fans, coaches, athletes, and researchers will enjoy this history of a sport rich in tradition and spectacular moments.

John P. Lohn is the United States correspondent for SwimVortex, and former senior writer for Swimming World Magazine. Lohn has covered the sport at the national and international levels since 2000, including the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He was the deputy sports editor for the Delaware County Daily Times before becoming a library media specialist. Lohn is the author of the Historical Dictionary of Competitive Swimming (2010) and They Ruled the Pool: The 100 Greatest Swimmers in History (2013). He is also the editor of the Rowman & Littlefield Swimming Series.

Chronology
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Welcome the Women
Chapter 2: Before He Swung From Vines
Chapter 3: The Dawn of Greatness
Chapter 4: Meyer's Gold Mine
Chapter 5: Seven For Spitz
Chapter 6: Hello, and Goodbye
Chapter 7: A Matter of Timing
Chapter 8: Gulping Down Gold
Chapter 9: USA All the Way
Chapter 10: Brigitha Breaks Barrier
Chapter 11: Political Pawns
Chapter 12: Rowdy's Reaction
Chapter 13: A Tie Game
Chapter 14: The Best of Biondi
Chapter 15: Nesty Nets Gold
Chapter 16: The Dragon Slayer
Chapter 17: A Tale of Redemption
Chapter 18: Gold-Medal Guitar
Chapter 19: Eric the Eel
Chapter 20: A Tie Between Teammates
Chapter 21: Race of the Century
Chapter 22: An Illegal Kickstart
Chapter 23: An Anchor's Way
Chapter 24: A Half-Stroke For History
Chapter 25: Age is Just a Number
Chapter 26: Under Consideration
Appendix A: The Olympic Games (Dates/Sites)
Appendix B: Most Overall Medals (By Country)
Appendix C: Most Gold Medals (Career)
Appendix D: Most Medals (Career)
Appendix E: Most Gold Medals (Olympiad)
Appendix F: Most Medals (Olympiad)
Bibliography
Index
About the Author