Ralph Flanagan (swimmer)
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Ralph Drew Flanagan (December 14, 1918 – February 8, 1988) was an American competitive swimmer who competed for the University of Texas and represented the United States at two consecutive Summer Olympics during the 1930s, winning a silver medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.[1]
Olympics
As a 13-year-old at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, Flanagan competed in the semifinals of the men's 1,500-meter freestyle.[1][2] Four years later at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, he won a silver medal as a member of the second-place U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay.[1][3] Individually, he finished fourth in the men's 400-meter freestyle and fifth in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle.[1][4][5]
During the height of his training, he swam for the Miami Swim Club and the Miami Biltmore Aquatic Club. Flanagan won an unprecedented 20 American Athletic Union titles and set 26 American and two world records. During his career, he held every U.S. freestyle record ranging from the 220-yard event to the mile.[6]
University of Texas
Flanagan swam for the University of Texas under Head Coach Tex Robertson. In his Senior year as a swimmer at Texas, Flanagan helped lead the Texas swim team to the Southwestern Conference team Championship. The 1939 University of Texas swim team featured 1936 Berlin Olympic 100-meter backstroke champion Adolph Kiefer, All-America backstroker Bob Tarleton, and team Captain freestyler Hondo Crouch.[7]
Post-swimming careers
After his retirement from competitive swimming, he continued to serve the sport as a professional for the Red Cross, later serving as the director of safety programs for Los Angeles.[6]
Honors
Flanagan was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1978.[8]
See also
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
- List of University of Texas at Austin alumni
References
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- ↑ a b c d Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Ralph Flanagan. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ↑ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games, Men's 1,500 metres Freestyle Final. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ↑ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, United States Swimming at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ↑ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games, Men's 400 metres Freestyle Final. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ↑ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games, Men's 1,500 metres Freestyle Final. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ "Municipal Pool's Championship", San Angelo Morning Times, San Angelo, Texas, April 29, 1939, pg. 5
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Template:Footer USA Swimming 1932 Summer Olympics Template:Footer USA Swimming 1936 Summer Olympics
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- 1918 births
- 1988 deaths
- American male freestyle swimmers
- Olympic silver medalists for the United States in swimming
- Sportspeople from Los Alamitos, California
- Swimmers from California
- Swimmers at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Swimmers at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Texas Longhorns men's swimmers
- Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- 20th-century American sportsmen