Lance Larson, swimmer who lost Olympic gold in historic dispute, dies at 83 – The Washington Post
1. Lance Larson, swimmer who lost Olympic gold
2. Lance Larson, dies at 83 – The Washington Post.
Lance Larson, the American swimming star who made headlines in the 1960 Rome Olympics, has sadly passed away at the age of 83. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Lance Larson’s swimming career was marked by a controversial race that sparked years of disputes and ultimately changed the landscape of Olympic timing.
In the 100-meter freestyle final in Rome, Larson found himself in a thrilling battle with Australia’s John Devitt. The two swimmers matched each other stroke for stroke, with Larson seemingly edging out Devitt by a fraction of a second at the wall. The crowd erupted in celebration, believing that Larson had secured another gold medal for the United States.
However, the judges and timers did not fully agree on the finishing order. While Larson’s timers had him at 55.0, 55.1, and 55.1 seconds, all three timers in Devitt’s lane had him at 55.2. The judges ultimately ruled in favor of Devitt, causing outrage among the American coaches and officials.
Hans Runströmer, the chief judge at the event, made the controversial decision to change Larson’s time to 55.2, tying with Devitt, and awarding the gold to the Australian swimmer. This decision sparked protests and appeals from U.S. swimming officials, who argued that the rule book stated that the times should decide the winner in case of such a conflict.
Despite the appeals, Runströmer’s ruling stood, leaving Larson with a silver medal and a sense of injustice. The controversy surrounding the race led to a reevaluation of Olympic timing protocols. An experimental electronic timing system was introduced in subsequent games, and by the 1968 Olympics, electronic timing systems were widely used.
Larson’s grievance had a lasting impact on the world of swimming, as electronic timing systems became a standard feature in Olympic events. The introduction of these systems eliminated the potential variables of human fallibility and ensured more accurate and fair results.
Born on July 3, 1940, in Monterey Park, California, Larson had a remarkable swimming career. He broke numerous records in high school and college, becoming the first high school swimmer to finish under 50 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle. Larson continued his success at the University of Southern California, where he set a world record in the 100-meter butterfly.
After graduating from USC and studying dentistry at the University of the Pacific, Larson served in the Navy’s Dental Corps before opening his own dental practice in Orange, California. He was married twice and is survived by his children and grandchildren.
Despite the controversy surrounding his race in Rome, Larson managed to reach the gold medal podium as part of the U.S. team in the 4×100-meter medley relay. The team set a new world record and Larson proudly posed for photographs, kissing his gold medal.
Lance Larson’s legacy extends beyond his swimming achievements. His grievance and the subsequent changes in Olympic timing protocols have left a lasting impact on the sport. His passion, dedication, and resilience will be remembered by the swimming community and fans around the world..
Lance Larson, swimmer who lost Olympic gold in historic dispute, dies at 83 – The Washington Post
1. Lance Larson swimmer lost Olympic gold in historic dispute dies at
2. Lance Larson swimmer lost Olympic gold in historic dispute dies at 83.
