A Duke, A Mermaid, A War And The Flu:
The Time The 1916 Olympics Was Canceled
By Bruce Wigo
COVID-19 isn’t the first pandemic disease to have brought the world of competitive swimming to a halt, and the 2020 Olympic Games are not the first to be postponed or canceled. This is the story of the years between 1914 and 1918, when the world was suddenly and unexpectedly turned upside down by events not so different from what our sport is experiencing today.
On the 28th of June 1914, Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Austria’s heir to the crown, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, Sophia, in Sarajevo. Back then, the world was just as unsuspecting and as unprepared for war as the world has been surprised and unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
Two years earlier, the “Sunshine Olympics,” as the 1912 Stockholm Games were known, had been a great success, and the world of amateur sports looked anxiously forward to the VI Olympiad in Berlin…with good reason.
Already by the summer of 1913, all of Berlin’s Olympic venues had been completed and the Olympic stadium consecrated. It was a spectacular improvement over the stadium in Stockholm. The magnificent swimming tank, built within the stadium on the outside of the track oval, measured 100 meters long by 25 meters wide, with a permanent diving tower at one end and seating for nearly 4,000 spectators. It promised to be a spectacular showcase for the aquatic sports, and Germany wanted their athletes to stand atop the podium in all events.
At first, the athletic world hoped that the War would end quickly, and the Germans were insistent that the Games would go on as scheduled. It would be up to each nation to decide whether they wanted to send athletes or not. It was just three months before the Games were scheduled to begin that the IOC canceled the Games and announced that no further action would be taken until the War ended.
While the cancellation of the Games dealt a blow to all swimmers, it was the women swimmers who suffered most. Most of the best American male swimmers of 1916, including Harry Hebner, Michael McDermott, Perry MacGillivray and the most famous swimmer in the world, Duke Kahanamoku, had experienced the Olympic Games in Stockholm—and the up and comers would have another shot in 1920.
But the fastest woman freestyle swimmer in the world in 1916 would lose her Olympic dream not only to the War, but to the Spanish flu, also known as the 1918 flu pandemic. Her name was Olga Dorfner, “the Philadelphia Mermaid,” and in 1916, she won the first-ever, AAU-sanctioned U.S. national championship ever awarded to a female athlete in any sport. The prize for winning stands on display today in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale.
The other great swimmer of the day to fall victim to the flu was Duke Kahanamoku, the 1912 100 meter freestyle Olympic champion. In 1916, he was 24 years old, at the peak of his career… and unbeatable.
To read more about the effects of war and flu on the swimming world of 1916-1918,
the May 2020 issue is now available for download in the Vault!
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[PHOTO CREDIT: SPEEDO USA]
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Swimming World Magazine May 2020 Issue
FEATURES
016 TOSSED INTO TURMOIL
by Dan D’Addona
The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a far-reaching impact not only on everyday life, but also on the sport of swimming across the globe.
018 TIMING IS EVERYTHING
by David Rieder
Everyone knows how important timing is—races can be won or lost by hundredths of a second. For swimmers competing at the NAIA and NJCAA Championships, the most important timing was measured in days. Both associations were able to complete their championship meets just before other major sports championships were being canceled due to the threat of coronavirus.
022 SILVER LINING COULD TURN TO GOLD
by Michael Randazzo
The Olympic postponement was hardly perceived as a positive, but it could lead to hope and opportunity for any men’s or women’s water polo team that aspires to Olympic competition—including the United States’ national teams.
024 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH ASHLEY TWICHELL
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
026 IMPACTING LIVES THROUGH COACHING
by David Rieder
Dave Durden, University of California and U.S. national team coach, simply refers to himself as a swim coach. But he’s also a leader, an expert at maximizing performance, removing doubt, instilling confidence and navigating young men through demanding situations.
030 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: T ‘N’ T—A FRIENDLY RIVALRY FOR A DYNAMITE DUO
by John Lohn
During the Olympic campaign of 2000, Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres—complete opposites out of the pool, but with few differences as competitors—were engaged in a friendly, but not-so-easy rivalry—one that brought out the best in both swimmers.
034 ISHOF: A DUKE, A MERMAID, A WAR AND THE FLU
by Bruce Wigo
COVID-19 isn’t the first pandemic disease to have brought the world of competitive swimming to a halt, and the 2020 Olympic Games are not the first to be postponed or canceled. This is the story of the years between 1914 and 1918, when the world was suddenly and unexpectedly turned upside down by events not so different from what our sport is experiencing today.
COACHING
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: THE VALUE OF HAND FORCE ANALYSIS: PART II—BACKSTROKE
by Rod Havriluk
Synchronized video and hand force data is an essential tool for optimizing technique. A coach can use the force data to pinpoint limitations, refer to the corresponding video images to explain changes and monitor a swimmer’s progress in improving technique.
038 MOTIVATING SWIMMERS TO NEW HEIGHTS
by Michael J. Stott
Memorable are the sporting events where an athlete or team is “on fire.” Swimming World checks in with two high school and two age group coaches for insight into how that happens. Spoiler alert: the common denominator is “buy-in” from athletes who connect with a coach.
042 SPECIAL SETS: CHANGE-OF-PACE FUN
by Michael J. Stott
USA Swimming master coach consultant Bob Steele provides some favorite change-of-pace exercises that are designed to insert spice and fun into in-season training.
046 Q&A WITH COACH DOUG FONDER
by Michael J. Stott
047 HOW THEY TRAIN OLIVIA BRAY
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
012 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE STRENGTH SERIES—FREESTYLE
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
049 UP & COMERS: FINN CONLEY
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
010 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
011 BEYOND THE YARDS
036 DID YOU KNOW? 1920 U.S. WOMEN’S OLYMPIC TEAM
044 THE OFFICIAL WORD
050 GUTTERTALK
051 PARTING SHOT
NOTE: READ LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER ABOUT THIS DIGITAL ISSUE DURING THE CONVID-19 PANDEMIC