| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for the United States | ||
| Men's Swimming | ||
| Silver | 1948 London | 100 m freestyle |
Alan Ford (December 7, 1923 – November 3, 2008) was an American swimmer who was a silver medalist at the 1948 Summer Olympics and was the first to swim the 100-yard freestyle in under 50 seconds.
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Born in Panama City, Republic of Panama, he moved to Sarasota, Florida from Midland, Michigan. Ford attended Panama Canal Zone schools (BHS '41), Mercersburg Academy (PA) and graduated from Yale University with a BS degree in mechanical engineering in 1945. He also served as an Ensign in the United States Navy during World War II.
During his prep and university swimming careers, Ford held numerous national and world records. While at Yale, he trained under swimming coach Robert J. H. Kiphuth, an innovator who introduced dry-land exercises and interval training. Ford broke Johnny Weismuller's 17-year-old world record in the 100-yard freestyle. In 1944, Ford became the first person to swim 100 yards freestyle in less than 50 seconds, swimming's equivalent of running a sub-four-minute mile in track. Ford became known as the human fish, an unofficial title he took over from Weissmuller.[1] This performance was unequaled for eight years.[2] During his senior year at Yale University, he was the captain of Yale's swim team.
In 1944, when Ford was in the prime of his swimming career, the 1944 Summer Olympics were cancelled because of WWII. That year he won national college titles in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle and the 150-yard backstroke. He came out of retirement after the war and returned to New Haven to train with Kiphuth. He had lost as much as 25 pounds of muscle and hadn't been in a pool for three years. After six months of training, and quitting smoking during that time, he made the US Olympic Team and won a silver medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.[2]
After his graduation from Yale, Ford went on to become a mechanical engineer. Ford designed and managed the construction of oil refineries, chemical, ore, and food processing plants as well as petroleum and chemical storage facilities in the US and abroad.[2]
Ford was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966.[2] At the ceremonies, when Ford was introduced, someone in the audience booed loudly. It turns out it was Johnny Weissmuller, and the crowd laughed when they realized who it was. Ford was never sure Weissmuller was joking.[3]
His swimming talents can still be seen in the 1940s film, Blue Winners (watch).
Ford died at age 84 on November 3, 2008 in Sarasota, Florida of emphysema.[2]