Charles Daniels (swimmer)

Charles Meldrum Daniels (March 24, 1885 – August 9, 1973)^[1] was an American competition swimmer, eight-time Olympic medalist, and world record-holder in two freestyle swimming events. Daniels was an innovator of the front crawl swimming style, inventing the "American crawl".^[2]

Charles Daniels

Personal information
Full name	Charles Meldrum Daniels
Nickname	"Charlie"
National team	United States
Born	(1885-03-24)March 24, 1885 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Died	August 9, 1973(1973-08-09) (aged 88) Carmel Valley Village, California, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg)
Spouse	Florence Goodyear Daniels
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	New York Athletic Club
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1904 St. Louis 220 yd freestyle 1904 St. Louis 440 yd freestyle 1904 St. Louis 4x50 yd freestyle 1908 London 100 m freestyle 1904 St. Louis 100 yd freestyle 1904 St. Louis 50 yd freestyle 1908 London 4x200 m freestyle Intercalated Games 1906 Athens 100 m freestyle

Daniels began his swimming career with the New York Athletic Club in 1903. At the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, Daniels became the first American to win an Olympic medal, winning gold medals in both the 220- and 440-yard freestyle races.^[2] Four years later, at the 1908 Olympics in London, Daniels won gold in the 100-meter freestyle.^[3][4]

Daniels was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1965.^[5]

See also

• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• List of multiple Olympic medalists at a single Games
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle
• World record progression 200 metres freestyle

References

1. "Charles Daniels | American swimmer | Britannica". britannica.com. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
2. Colwin, Cecil (February 2002). Breakthrough Swimming. Human Kinetics. p. 18. ISBN 0-7360-3777-2.
3. "Charles Daniels". Olympedia. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
4. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Charles Daniels". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
5. "Charles Daniels (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.

External links

• "Eight Swimming Marks for Daniels", New York Times, January 1, 1911
• Charles Daniels at the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• Charles Daniels at Olympics.com
• Charles Daniels at Olympedia
• Charles Daniels at the Team USA Hall of Fame