John Nelson (swimmer)

Medal record
Men's swimming
Competitor for the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold 1968 Mexico City 4×200 m freestyle
Silver 1964 Tokyo 1500 m freestyle
Bronze 1968 Mexico City 200 m freestyle
Summer Universiade
Gold 1967 Tokyo 4×200 m freestyle

John Nelson (born in Chicago, Illinois on June 8, 1948) is an American Professional Swimmer and Olympic Gold Medalist. Nelson attended Pompano Beach High School and eventually enrolled in Yale University where he met his future Gold Medalist teammate and World Record competitor, Don Schollander.[1] Nelson competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where he received the Gold Medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay beside his teammates Stephen Rerych, Mark Spitz, and Don Schollander and a Bronze Medal in the 200 m freestyle.[2] He received a Silver Medal in 1500 m freestyle at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.[3]

World record

Nelson improved the world record on the 400 m freestyle (long course) on August 18, 1966 (4:11.8), only to be beaten by Don Schollander, his American teammate, within the same day (4:11.6).[4]

References