Lance Larson (1940–2024), Olympic champ and record-holding swimmer
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2 min readLance Larson was an Olympic champion swimmer who was ultimately awarded a silver medal instead of gold in what is considered one of the most controversial calls in modern swimming history.
- Died: January 19, 2024 (Who else died on January 19?)
- Details of death: Died in Orange County, California, at the age of 83.
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Lance Larson’s legacy
Born in Monterey Park, California, Larson set regional swimming records while attending El Monte High School and continued his early dominance at the University of Southern California.
In 1960, he competed in the Summer Olympics in Rome, where he proved to be one of the top swimmers at that year’s event. He won a gold medal with the U.S. relay team and a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle. That silver ended up being among the most controversial calls in modern Olympics history. Initially, all three judges determined that Larson was the winner, but John Devitt of Australia protested, claiming there was a tie. After a string of appeals and debates, Devitt was declared the winner, even though video of the race appears to show Larson winning.
Despite the incident, Larson broke several swim records that year and cemented his place in the history books. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1980.
Tributes to Lance Larson
Full obituary: The Orange County Register
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