{"id":480226,"date":"2023-11-30T01:22:16","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T08:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=480226"},"modified":"2023-11-30T06:55:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T13:55:46","slug":"underappreciated-don-schollander-was-a-legend-and-a-star-during-the-first-tokyo-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/underappreciated-don-schollander-was-a-legend-and-a-star-during-the-first-tokyo-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Underappreciated, Don Schollander Was a Legend; And a Star During the First Tokyo Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

Underappreciated, Don Schollander Was a Legend; And a Star During the First Tokyo Games<\/strong><\/p>\n

How can a five-time Olympic champion be underappreciated? How can a man who set double-digit individual world records go overlooked? How can the one-time face of Team USA find himself snubbed on the scale of historical greatness?<\/p>\n

By all measures, Don Schollander<\/strong> is a legend in the sport, a Hall of Fame talent who was unrivaled in his heyday. He was dominant. He was versatile. He was clutch in pressure situations. A half-century beyond retirement, he deserves continued recognition of his greatness. Yet, Schollander is a largely forgotten star, his impact lost to a combination of unfortunate timing and modern-day fascination.<\/p>\n

Among aquatic enthusiasts, there is little debate regarding the greatest American triumvirate among male athletes. Michael Phelps<\/strong> sits at the head of the boardroom table, the CEO of the sport. Meanwhile, vice presidential status is held by Johnny Weissmuller<\/strong>, actually best known for his cinematic identity as Tarzan, and Mark Spitz<\/strong>, he of seven gold medals and seven world records at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.<\/p>\n

Because modernity plays a role in most subjective rankings, the next name typically mentioned is that of Matt Biondi<\/strong><\/a>, the highest-profile American star of the 1980s and 1990s. What about Schollander? While he was widely appreciated in his era, his greatness was quickly dismissed, the aura of Spitz casting an inescapable shadow.<\/p>\n

Timing simply was not on Schollander\u2019s side. His excellence was delivered prior to the period in which professionalism was an option, with endorsement deals available to the top-tier athletes in the sport. More, Schollander was the victim of Spitz\u2019s surging star and monumental performance at the Munich Games.<\/p>\n

Really, the lack of appreciation for Schollander is an injustice.<\/p>\n

A Stellar Career<\/h3>\n

There are several ways to place the career of Don Schollander in perspective. The task could be handled by focusing on his Olympic exploits. Or, we could dissect the power of his world-record performances. Instead, let\u2019s go with this bullet point on the man\u2019s resume: Schollander was a member of the inaugural induction class into the International Swimming Hall of Fame<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"02

Schollander, only 18, matched what legendary track athlete, Jesse Owens, managed at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin: four gold medals. (Pictured, from left: 1964 men\u2019s Olympic 400 freestyle medalists: Frank Wiegand, United Team of Germany, silver; Schollander, gold; and Allan Wood, Australia, bronze.)<\/p><\/div>\n

When the Hall of Fame announced its initial entrants in 1965, Schollander was just a year removed from starring at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He was also a mere 19 years old, with several more impressive years ahead of him. Yes, Schollander earned Hall of Fame status as a teenager and in the prime of his career.<\/p>\n

Schollander\u2019s precocious talent was on display in his early teens, as he guided Lake Oswego High School to the Oregon state championship as a freshman. Meanwhile, by the time he was 16, he was a multi-time national champion and on pace to become a headliner for the United States. That identity was etched at the 1964 Olympics.<\/p>\n

Having qualified for the Tokyo Games in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle, Schollander embraced a four-event schedule. In relay action, Schollander fueled the United States to world records in the 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay, with Germany the runnerup in both events. His individual success required a bit more work but was just as golden.<\/p>\n

In the 100 freestyle, Schollander (53.4) eked out a narrow triumph over Great Britain\u2019s Bobby McGregor<\/strong> (53.5). A couple of days later, he went back to work in the 400 freestyle, this time prevailing with a world record of 4:12.2, more than two seconds clear of the silver-medal time of Germany\u2019s Frank Wiegand<\/strong> (4:14.9). The critical nature of the 100 freestyle was not lost on Schollander, as that event jumpstarted his success and supplied much-needed momentum.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it was my first event, I felt that this race could make me or break me for the rest of the Games,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I won, I would be up for the rest of my events \u2013 my confidence would be flying high. If I lost, I would be down. That sounds temperamental, but I have seen an early race work this way on swimmers. So this 100 free took on much more importance than just another event.”<\/p>\n

With four gold medals to his credit, Schollander became an Olympic hero, with his title count matching what the legendary track athlete, Jesse Owens<\/strong>, managed at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The total could have been higher, too, if not for the U.S. coaching staff\u2019s decision to not use Schollander on the 400 medley relay.<\/p>\n

As the Olympic champion in the 100 freestyle, Schollander figured to have earned the anchor slot on the medley relay. Instead, the coaches went with Steve Clark<\/strong>, who was the fastest American in the 400 freestyle relay. The decision was highly questionable.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, in the back of my mind, I was aware that this could mean my fifth gold medal,\u201d Schollander said of being on the medley relay. \u201cAnd it wouldn\u2019t be just one more gold medal \u2013 it would be an unprecedented fifth gold medal. No swimmer had ever won four gold medals at an Olympics, but nobody in history \u2013 in any sport \u2013 had ever won five. But this wasn\u2019t my arguing point. I felt that I had earned the spot on the medley relay team.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the ensuing years, Schollander added to his greatness, winning the 200 freestyle at the 1967 Pan American Games and adding Olympic gold in the 800 freestyle relay at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.<\/p>\n

What Could Have Been?<\/h3>\n

The schedules utilized for today\u2019s major championship competitions provide a little something for everyone. At the World Championships, sprint specialists are offered 50-meter events in each stroke. And at this summer\u2019s Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 800 freestyle will be offered for men for the first time, with the 1500 freestyle new to the women\u2019s program.<\/p>\n

During Schollander\u2019s era, the Olympic program was limited, and the World Championships were still a figment of the imagination. Specifically, Schollander was denied the chance to contest the 200 freestyle \u2013 his best event \u2013 when the American was at his peak at the 1964 Olympics.<\/p>\n

Although he possessed the speed necessary to excel in the 100 freestyle and the endurance required of the 400 freestyle, Schollander was at his best in the 200 freestyle. It was his sweet spot and no foe had the ability to keep pace. A statistical look at the event serves as proof of Schollander\u2019s dominance.<\/p>\n

\"Schollander,

Don Schollander – Photo Courtesy: ISHOF<\/p><\/div>\n

From 1962 to 1968, Schollander set 11 world records in the 200 free, including seven consecutive marks from 1964 to 1968. Over the course of those records, Schollander took the time in the event from 2:00.4 to 1:54.3, a massive leap that speaks to the revolutionary nature of Schollander\u2019s skill.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are three things that make Don such a terrific swimmer,\u201d once said George Haines, who molded Schollander into a champion at the Santa Clara Swim Club. “First, he is almost flawless mechanically. Second, he has a tremendous desire to win. Finally, he is a thoroughly intelligent competitor with a wonderful tactical sense.”<\/p>\n

As successful as Schollander was at the 1964 Olympics, his haul almost surely would have been five gold medals had the 200 freestyle been part of the program. But the four-lap discipline was not added to the schedule until 1968 and while Schollander was still superb at that point in his career, he was not the untouchable force who went to Tokyo and emerged as the sport\u2019s main man.<\/p>\n

At the Mexico City Games, Schollander claimed the silver medal in the 200 freestyle, beaten to the wall by Australian great Michael<\/strong> Wenden<\/strong>. It was a surprise setback, but one that Schollander took in stride and did not lament. Rather, he was able to view his career through a lens that focused on all that was accomplished, not what was lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel very fortunate to have gained the success I\u2019ve achieved,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a career I\u2019ll be able to look back on and be very pleased about. I would have liked to have won because it is my last race, but I did as fine a job as I could. I\u2019m not disappointed a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Cerebral Approach<\/h3>\n

One of the main struggles for swimmers who reach the pinnacle of their sport is finding an alternate identity. Athletes in the sport, including today, have a difficult time transitioning to life after swimming, or finding interests to offset the zoned-in nature of training. Schollander, though, was different.<\/p>\n

After his Olympic success, Schollander enrolled at Yale University and continued to excel in the water. But as an introspective individual, he found a balance in his life and made sure he was well-rounded in his endeavors.<\/p>\n

“This is the crux. Before you decide how you want to live your life, you must look at yourself and attempt to know yourself,\u201d Schollander once said. \u201cI look at myself as a person who’s trying to develop as an individual. It’s been important to me throughout my life to be much more than a student, to be much more than an athlete, to be much more than anything. This is consistent with my philosophy of the well-rounded, but not necessarily Renaissance, man. I’m proficient in the academic side, the athletic side and the social side. I’m not proficient in the arts \u2013 music, painting, sculpture. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to go to more plays, take in concerts. I’m always on the go. I think I have a very active mind. I don’t feel I do total justice to anything.”<\/p>\n

Another element of Schollander\u2019s career that defined his success was the mental game he played. Schollander walked with an air of confidence about him, and never appeared rattled. He played a psychological game with the opposition, his lack of nerves \u2013 well \u2013 unnerving.<\/p>\n

Obviously, Schollander did justice to his career in the pool. Sure, the likes of Phelps, Spitz and Weissmuller might receive greater attention, but anyone with deep knowledge of the sport will recognize Don Schollander as a legend. He was a thoroughbred in the water, as once noted by his college coach, Phil Moriarty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“His stroke is flawless,\u201d Moriarty said. \u201cEvery other swimmer I’ve worked with had a flaw. With legs only, he does as well as anyone, and he has combined this so well with his stroke that he is a one-motored man. Many swimmers are two-motored, in that they don’t synchronize their stroke and kick. As a coach, all I can do is observe him and tell him when he’s going off pattern, keep him busy, give him a program. With Don Schollander I feel like I’m training a racehorse. How can I communicate with a horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

By letting him run, or in Schollander\u2019s case, swim. And he performed his craft better than most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Underappreciated, Don Schollander Was a Legend; And a Star During the First Tokyo Games How can a five-time Olympic champion be underappreciated? 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