Albert Wiggins

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Albert Wiggins
Personal information
Full nameAlbert Marcus Wiggins Jr.
NicknameAl
National team 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m)
Weight201 lb (91 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, butterfly, freestyle
College teamOhio State University
Medal record
Representing
Ohio State
NCAA
Gold medal – first place 1955 Oxford Team title
Gold medal – first place 1955 Oxford 150 yard individual medley
Gold medal – first place 1955 Oxford 300 yard medley relay
Gold medal – first place 1956 Ann Arbor Team title
Gold medal – first place 1956 Ann Arbor 200 yard individual medley

Albert Marcus Wiggins Jr. (May 27, 1935 – June 1, 2011) was the first American swimmer to win Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships in three strokes: butterfly, backstroke and freestyle. He set four world records in the 100-meter and 100-yard butterfly, and in total won eight AAU titles. He also participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics and finished seventh in the 100-meter backstroke event.[1] Although he was recognized as a world top medley swimmer, this event became Olympic only in 1964.[2]

Biography

Wiggins was born in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of a vice president of Westinghouse Air Brake Company. He attended Allderdice High School and then Ohio State University, where he trained under the 1952 Olympic coach Mike Peppe. Although he was tall and well-built, Wiggins was shortsighted from a young age and wore glasses; he therefore avoided sports requiring physical contact and chose swimming instead. He started training at a club at age 13. Although he was interested in backstroke, this discipline was then dominated by Yoshi Oyakawa, which led Wiggins to explore other styles.[2]

Wiggins retired from competitions at age 22 to pursue a career in law, and, after graduating from

estate law
. Wiggins retired from practicing law in 2001. He continued to swim through most of his life, mostly in his private pool, but avoided masters competitions.

He died in Pittsburgh, aged 76, from a tear in the aorta after a morning swim. He was survived by his wife, sister Marge Hanley, and three children: daughters Susan Wiggins and Rhiana Wiggins from the first marriage, and son David from the second marriage.[2]

Wiggins was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1994.[3]

He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in April 1956 when he was 21 years old. He is one of 68 athletes to have been featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of the magazine and then also appear on a cover.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Albert Wiggins". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Albert M. Wiggins Jr" (PDF). ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-15.
  3. ^ "Albert Wiggins (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  4. ^ "50 Years of Faces in the Crowd," Sports Illustrated (December 16, 2006).

External links