Albert VandeWeghe
Albert Vandeweghe
(USA) was inducted into the International Swimming Hall
of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in 1990. The following text was
included in the program for the induction ceremony of that year.
The Record: 1936 Olympic silver (100m Back). Six World
Records: (100yd, 100m & 220yd Back). Six A.A.U. National
Championships: (150yd & 100m Back) & Relays. Five N.C.A.A.
Championships: (150yd Back) & Relays. Nine American
Records: (100yd, 200m, 220yd, 150yd, 440yd, 500yd Back).
It would be difficult to find a better family athletic
record than the example set by Uncle Al VandeWeghe, world
record holding backstroker, his cousin Kiki (NBA Basketball
All Star) and his cousin, Tanna, 1964 Olympic backstroker.
VandeWeghe was the first man under a minute in the 100 yard
backstroke, a milestone achievement he attained while still
in high school. He set a world short course record at 59.41
on February 18, 1939. This was one of six world backstroke
records he set between 1934 and 1939, mostly while at
Princeton University. He also had nine American backstroke
records and three American medley relay records while teamed
with Dick Hough (Hall of Fame breaststroker) and Hank Van
Oss (freestyler). This trio won three AAU Nationals and
three NCAA crowns with Parks substituting for Van Oss in one
of the AAU Championships. Al VandeWeghe won a total of five
nationals in backstroke. He was undefeated in college
swimming and finished second to the all-time backstroke
legend Adolph Kiefer in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Besides
being the first man under a minute for one milestone
achievement, Al has a second when he introduced the
revolutionary VendeWeghe-Vogt backstroke flip turn at the
AAU Nationals in 1934. Among his many honors at Patterson
High School, Hunn School and Princeton University, he was
the selection as New Jersey's to Amateur Athlete in 1936.
He was also voted top New Jersey Collegiate Athlete in 1939
and Princeton's Outstanding scholar athlete in 1940. His
international experience limited by the depression, extended
only to the USA-Japan dual meet and an all victorious trip
to Poland after the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
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All-Star History --
All-American History --
Top Ten Since 1993 --
ISHOF Honoree Active in USMS
