When Walter Laufer Set 4 Backstroke World Marks In 24 Days
Two years before he claimed 1928 Olympic gold in the 4x200m free alongside Johnny Weissmuller, George Kojac and Austin Clapp, and silver behind another U.S.teammate, George Kojac, in the 100m back, Walter Laufer celebrated a bull run of backstroke standards on tour in Germany
Walter Adam Laufer set four World records on backstroke in 24 days while on U.S. national-team tour in Germany in 1926 in an era in which the event was not part of the Olympic program. He would also excel in U.S. college competition and go on to claim gold and silver medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.
His victory with 4×200m freestyle teammates Johnny Weissmuller, George Kojac and Austin Clapp, was secured in a world-record time of 9:36.2 and came two days after Laufer had taken silver in the 100m backstroke, in 1:10.0, as middle man in a U.S. podium seep, the champion George Kojac in a World record of 1:08.2, the bronze to Paul Wyatt in 1:12.0.
Laufer's SOS Hall of Fame Entry follows:
