Murray Rose
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Medal record | |||
---|---|---|---|
Murray Rose |
|||
Men’s Swimming | |||
Competitor for Australia | |||
Olympic Games | |||
Gold | 1956 Melbourne | 400 m freestyle | |
Gold | 1956 Melbourne | 1500 m freestyle | |
Gold | 1956 Melbourne | 4x200 m freestyle relay | |
Gold | 1960 Rome | 400 m freestyle | |
Silver | 1960 Rome | 1500 m freestyle | |
Bronze | 1960 Rome | 4x200 m freestyle relay |
Iain Murray Rose was born on 6 January 1939 in Nairn, Scotland, but he moved to Australia with his family at an early age after World War II. He took up swimming as a boy and was an Olympic Games champion at age seventeen.
Rose became an Olympian for the first time at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He won the 400 metre and 1500 metre freestyle races and was a member of the winning team in the 4x200 metre relay. Winning three gold medals in his home country immediately made him a national hero. He was the youngest Olympian to be awarded three gold medals in one Olympic Games. Afterwards, Rose moved to the United States to study at the University of Southern California. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Rose again won an Olympic gold medal. He also won a silver and a bronze bringing his haul to six medals. Rose continued to compete through his graduation from USC in 1962. He eventually set fifteen world records. Rose continued to compete as a masters swimmer.
He majored in drama and television and took the leading part in many plays on campus. During his career, he was also known for his strict vegetarianism. This earned him the nickname "The Seaweed Streak".
An avenue at the Sydney Olympic complex was named for him in 2000. He was one of the eight flag-bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
[edit] External links
- Swimming Australia profile for Murray Rose
|
|
Records | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by George Breen |
Men's 1500m Freestyle World Record Holder (Long Course) 30 October 1956 – 5 December 1956 |
Succeeded by George Breen |
Preceded by Roy Saari |
Men's 1500m Freestyle World Record Holder (Long Course) 2 August 1964 – 2 September 1964 |
Succeeded by Roy Saari |