Adolph Kiefer, 1936 Olympic Gold Medalist, Passes Away at Age 98

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Adolph Kiefer, the legendary backstroker who won gold in the 100 back at the 1936 Olympics before going on to a successful career in the U.S. Navy and in business, has passed away at his home in Wadsworth, Illinois. He was 98 years old.

Kiefer became the first man to break the one-minute mark in the 100-yard backstroke while competing as a 16-year-old in the Illinois High School Championships of 1935. He swam the distance in 59.8 seconds. His 1936 Illinois state championship backstroke time of 58.5 seconds was the Illinois state high-school record until 1960. On April 6, 1940 Kiefer set another record, swimming the 100-yard backstroke in 57.9 seconds.

Kiefer broke twenty-three records after breaking the one-minute backstroke mark. Kiefer went on to set a world record for 100-meter backstroke of 1:04.8 on January 18, 1936, at Brennan Pools in Detroit, Michigan.

kiefer-ymca

Kiefer served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant and introducing “victory backstroke” as a means of teaching soldiers how to swim. Kiefer’s “victory backstroke” led him to outline an intensive learn-to-swim program, with a heavy focus on water survival with the requirement that sailors must receive 21 hours of water survival training. In Bainbridge, Maine, Kiefer oversaw the training of more than 13,000 naval swimming instructors, who, in turn, taught more than two million recruits how to swim and survive a sinking ship.

After establishing his learn-to-swim programs at Bainbridge, Kiefer established the company Adolph Kiefer & Associates, based out of Chicago. He would run the business until 2014.

Adolph Kiefer Through The Years:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Among his later accomplishments, Kiefer developed the first nylon swimwear in the 1940s and in the 1960s, which quickly replaced the wool suits worn by many swimmers. He was awarded a patent for the first non-turbulent lane lines, inspired by Yale’s legendary coach Bob Kiphuth. In addition to creating the first nylon suits and non-turbulent lane lines, Kiefer also became the first to distribute Duraflex Diving Boards for his friend Ray Rude. Duraflex is now the only competitive diving board used world-wide.

Over the years, Adolf Kiefer & Company became the official supplier to the USA Olympic Team and the Olympic Games. Kiefer continued to donate his time and money to help young children learn how to swim, even supplying pools in neighborhoods, throughout his early 90s.

He was an Honor Swimming member of the inaugural class inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965.

In 2007, USA Swimming presented Kiefer with a gold medal from the 1936 Olympic Games, to replace the one that had been stolen shortly after he returned from Berlin 71 years ago. The medal was specially cast from the original mold for the occasion by the International Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

He was nominated for a U.S. Medal of Freedom. Born June 27, 1918, he was the oldest living U.S. Olympic gold medalist in any sport and the only living gold medalist from the 1936 Olympic Games.

“There will never be another like Adolph Kiefer,” says Bruce Wigo, President of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “Not only was he a great swimmer and businessman, but he was a great human being, husband and father whose memory will live on as a model and inspiration for future generations of swimmers and non-swimmers alike.”

Watch this Morning Swim Show With Kiefer From 2014

Brent Rutemiller, Taylor Brien, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame contributed to this report.

Name*

Email*

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

Name*

Email*

21 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Trevor Pemberton

6 years ago

My respect to the bereaved

Dana Abbott-NISCA

6 years ago

Fair winds and following seas, my friend, from all of us in NISCA.

Paul Cate

6 years ago

Every swimmer owes him a debt of gratitude. The truly great man.

Tom Wojslawowicz

6 years ago

A giant in our sport. May his legacy endure forever.

Mike John

6 years ago

That a great interview played at the bottom of the article. Inspiring individual.

Kathryn Vandam

6 years ago

Wow! Inspirational man!

Heidi Ernst

6 years ago

RIP

Coach JK

6 years ago

So sad to lose yet another great contributor to the swim world…may his surviving loved ones find comfort in knowing how many swim coaches and swimmers he and his legacy have impacted.

Anja Grevers

6 years ago

He was a great man and will be missed.

Lori Senerius McNamara

6 years ago

Kelly McNamara

Jim Starrett

6 years ago

Truly a class act. Met him on numerous occasions & @ multiple aquatic venues over the years. Very approachable, informative, great storyteller &
philanthropic. I will forever remember his HUGE smile and ever present twinkle in his eyes. RIP Mr. Kiefer and a most sincere top of the goggles
to a true aquatic legend. A true friend to NISCA!!!!

Beverly Davis Atkins

6 years ago

RIP!

Lanny Landtroop

6 years ago

Bless you Adolph. You truly LIVED a full and generous life.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Wonderful person but..Legendary..no..and the more we use it on people who are not…it takes away from the real LEGENDS…just saying…it’s used way to much for writing about old people who die

Adolph Fan

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Maloney

That is a silly comment. If you look into all of his innovations he is definitely a legend. Just because you didn’t know about him, doesn’t mean he’s not a legend.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Reply to Adolph Fan

Not to argue…lol….but the 1st line in the article is..the LEGENDARY BACKSTROKER….which he was not….it didnt say LEGENDARY INNOVATOR..etc….so hes not LEGENDARY is my point…just saying

Annabelle Ancheta

6 years ago

98 is awesome to be alive ?

Bill Nickell

6 years ago

Rip brother

Micki Poole

6 years ago

SIP Adolph “Sonny” Kiefer

(SIP means Swim In Peace)

Raihan Ahmed

6 years ago

Zayaan Haider so this is where Kiefer comes from

Brooks Richardson

6 years ago

Great article about a legend of excellence in the world of Olympic Swimming and American spirit of competition..