TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: A

TAKEOFF TO TOKYO

A FORGOTTEN STAR

By all measures, Don Schollander is a legend in the sport, a Hall of Fame talent who was unrivaled in his heyday. Yet, his impact has been lost to a combination of unfortunate timing and modern-day fascination.

BY JOHN LOHN

PHOTOS BY INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME

>> Don Schollander with the four gold medals he won at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo (100-400 free, 400-800 freestyle relay).

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?

Don Schollander 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.

Among aquatic enthusiasts, there is little debate regarding the greatest American triumvirate among male athletes. Michael Phelps sits at the head of the boardroom table, the CEO of the sport. Meanwhile, vice presidential status is held by Johnny Weissmuller, actually best known for his >> Schollander, only 18, matched what legendary track athlete, Jesse Owens, managed at the 1936 Olympics in cinematic identity as Tarzan, and Mark Berlin: four gold medals. (Pictured, from left: 1964 men’s Olympic 400 freestyle medalists: Frank Wiegand, United Spitz, he of seven gold medals and seven Team of Germany, silver; Schollander, gold; and Allan Wood, Australia, bronze.) world records at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. record of 4:12.2, nearly three seconds ahead of the silver-medal time

Because modernity plays a role in most subjective rankings, the of Germany’s Frank Wiegand (4:14.9). next name typically mentioned is that of Matt Biondi, the highest- The critical nature of the 100 freestyle was not lost on profile American star of the 1980s and 1990s. Schollander, as that event jumpstarted his success and supplied

What about Schollander? much-needed momentum: “Because it was my first event, I felt that

While he was widely appreciated in his era, his greatness was this race could make me or break me for the rest of the Games,” quickly dismissed, the aura of Spitz casting an inescapable shadow. he said. “If I won, I would be up for the rest of my events—my

Timing simply was not on Schollander’s side. His excellence confidence would be flying high. If I lost, I would be down. That was delivered prior to the period in which professionalism was an sounds temperamental, but I have seen an early race work this way option, with endorsement deals available to the top-tier athletes in on swimmers. So this 100 free took on much more importance than the sport. More, Schollander was the victim of Spitz’s surging star just another event.” and monumental performance at the Munich Games. With four gold medals to his credit, Schollander became an

Really, the lack of appreciation for Schollander is an injustice. Olympic hero, with his title count matching what the legendary track athlete, Jesse Owens, managed at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. A STELLAR CAREER The total could have been higher, too, if not for the U.S. coaching

There are several ways to place the career of Don Schollander in staff’s decision not to use Schollander on the 400 medley relay. perspective. The task could be handled by focusing on his Olympic As the Olympic champion in the 100 free, Schollander figured exploits. Or, we could dissect the power of his world-record to have earned the anchor slot on the medley relay. Instead, the performances. Instead, let’s go with this bullet point on the man’s coaches went with Steve Clark, who was the fastest American in the résumé: Schollander was a member of the inaugural induction class 400 freestyle relay. The decision was highly questionable. into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “Certainly, in the back of my mind, I was aware that this could

When the Hall of Fame announced its initial entrants in 1965, mean my fifth gold medal,” Schollander said of being on the medley Schollander was just a year removed from starring at the 1964 relay. “And it wouldn’t be just one more gold medal—it would be Olympics in Tokyo. He was also a mere 19 years old, with several an unprecedented fifth gold medal. No swimmer had ever won four more impressive years ahead of him. Yes, Schollander earned Hall gold medals at an Olympics, but nobody in history—in any sport— of Fame status as a teenager and in the prime of his career. had ever won five. But this wasn’t my arguing point. I felt that I had

Schollander’s precocious talent was on display in his early earned the spot on the medley relay team.” teens, as he guided Lake Oswego High School to the Oregon state In the ensuing years, Schollander added to his greatness, championship as a freshman. Meanwhile, by the time he was 16, winning the 200 freestyle at the 1967 Pan American Games and he was a multi-time national champion and on pace to become a adding Olympic gold in the 800 freestyle relay at the 1968 Games headliner for the United States. That identity was etched at the 1964 in Mexico City. Olympics.

Having qualified for the Tokyo Games in the 100 freestyle and WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN 400 freestyle, Schollander embraced a four-event schedule. In relay The schedules utilized for today’s major championship action, Schollander fueled the United States to world records in competitions provide a little something for everyone. At the World the 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay, with Germany the Championships, sprint specialists are offered 50-meter events in runner-up in both events. His individual success required a bit more each stroke. And at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, the work, but was just as golden. 800 freestyle will be offered for men for the first time, with the 1500

In the 100 free, Schollander (53.4) eked out a narrow triumph freestyle new to the women’s program. over Great Britain’s Bobby McGregor (53.5). A couple of days later, During Schollander’s era, the Olympic program was limited, and he went back to work in the 400, this time prevailing with a world the World Championships were still a figment of the imagination.

>> “There are three things that make Don such a terrific swimmer,” 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.”

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. “I feel very fortunate to have gained the success I’ve achieved,” he said. “I think it’s a career I’ll 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’m not disappointed a bit.”

A CEREBRAL APPROACH

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. 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 wellrounded in his endeavors. “This is the crux. Before you decide how you want to live your life, you must look at yourself and attempt to know yourself,” Schollander once said. “I 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 Specifically, Schollander was denied the chance to contest the 200 athlete, to be much more than anything. This is consistent with my freestyle—his best event—when the American was at his peak at philosophy of the well-rounded, but not necessarily Renaissance, the 1964 Olympics. man. I’m proficient in the academic side, the athletic side and

Although he possessed the speed necessary to excel in the the social side. I’m not proficient in the arts—music, painting, 100 freestyle and the endurance required of the 400 freestyle, sculpture. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to go to more plays, take Schollander was at his best in the 200 freestyle. It was his sweet in concerts. I’m always on the go. I think I have a very active mind. spot, and no foe had the ability to keep pace. I don’t feel I do total justice to anything.”

A statistical look at the event serves as Another element of Schollander’s career proof of Schollander’s dominance: From DESIGNING & MANUFACTURING that defined his success was the mental 1962 to 1968, Schollander set 11 world HIGH QUALITY POOL DECK game he played. Schollander walked with records in the 200 free, including seven EQUIPMENT FOR 89 YEARS! an air of confidence about him, and never consecutive marks from 1964 to 1968. Over appeared rattled. He played a psychological the course of those records, Schollander took game with the opposition, his lack of the time in the event from 2:00.4 to 1:54.3, a nerves—well—unnerving. massive leap that speaks to the revolutionary Obviously, Schollander did justice to his nature of Schollander’s skill. career in the pool. Sure, the likes of Phelps,

“There are three things that make Don Spitz and Weissmuller might receive greater such a terrific swimmer,” said George attention, but anyone with deep knowledge Haines, who molded Schollander into a of the sport will recognize Don Schollander champion at the Santa Clara Swim Club. as a legend. He was a thoroughbred in the “First, he is almost flawless mechanically. water, as once noted by his college coach, Second, he has a tremendous desire to Phil Moriarty. win. Finally, he is a thoroughly intelligent “His stroke is flawless,” Moriarty said. competitor with a wonderful tactical sense.” “Every other swimmer I’ve worked with

As successful as Schollander was at had a flaw. With legs only, he does as well the 1964 Olympics, his haul almost surely as anyone, and he has combined this so well would have been five gold medals had the with his stroke that he is a one-motored 200 freestyle been part of the program (and man. Many swimmers are two-motored, even possibly six had he been selected to in that they don’t synchronize their stroke swim the medley relay). But the four-lap and kick. discipline was not added to the schedule “As a coach, all I can do is observe him until 1968, and while Schollander was still and tell him when he’s going off pattern, superb at that point in his career, he was not keep him busy, give him a program. With the untouchable force who went to Tokyo Don Schollander, I feel like I’m training a and emerged as the sport’s main man. racehorse. How can I communicate with a

At the Mexico City Games, Schollander horse?” claimed the silver medal in the 200 freestyle, By letting him run, or in Schollander’s beaten to the wall by Australian great 800.824.4387 case, swim. And he performed his craft SRSMITH.COM Michael Wenden. It was a surprise setback, better than most. v