Oldest US Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist Dies at 98

NEW ORLEANS, September 26. HARRISON Smith Glancy — at 98, the oldest living American Olympic gold medalist in swimming — died of heart failure at his home in New Orleans on Sunday, said his son, Dr. David Luke Glancy, chief of Cardiology at the LSU Medical Center.

At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, Harry Glancy teamed with Wally O'Connor, Ralph Breyer and the great Johnny Weissmuller to win the 800 meter freestyle relay in a world record 9:53.4.

In all, Glancy was a member of three world record-setting relay teams. He also won three individual AAU titles.

Glancy was the second-oldest surviving U.S. Olympic gold medal winner. James Stillman Rockefeller, 100, won
a gold medal in rowing, also in Paris at the '24 Games.

Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale in 1990, Glancy swam until his early seventies, when heart disease made it impossible for him to continue, said his son.

Glancy is survived by two sons, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His wife, Irma Mae Lucas, died in 1997.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x