WY
American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder
William Yorzyk
The basics
Quick facts
Intro
American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder
A.K.A.
William Albert Yorzyk, Jr.
Gender:
Male
Places:
Work field:
Birth:
29 May 1933(Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA)
Death:
2 September 2020(East Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA)
Star sign:
Education:
bachelor's degree
Springfield College
Doctor of Medicine
University of Toronto
The details
Biography
William Albert Yorzyk Jr. (born May 29, 1933) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.
Yorzyk represented the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.He was the first swimmer to win the gold medal in the new 200-meter butterfly event, finishing with a time of 2:19.3 in the final.
Yorzyk continued to swim competitively while he attended medical school at the University of Toronto.He won the U.S. AAU indoor championship in the 220-yard butterfly in 1958.He was awarded the university's Bickle Prize as its outstanding student-athlete in 1958 and 1959.
Yorzyk was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1971.