Bob Skelton (swimmer)

Robert Danforth Skelton (June 25, 1903 – June 25, 1977) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.

Bob Skelton

Ralph Breyer, Bob Skelton, Johnny Weissmuller, c. 1925
Personal information
Full name	Robert Danforth Skelton
National team	United States
Born	(1903-06-25)June 25, 1903 Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 25, 1977(1977-06-25) (aged 74) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke
Club	Illinois Athletic Club
College team	Northwestern University
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 1924 Paris 200 m breaststroke

Biography

Skelton was born in Wilmette, Illinois. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he swam for the Northwestern Wildcats swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition.

Skelton competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he won a gold medal in the men's 200-meter breaststroke event. Skelton finished in 2:56.6, decisively defeating Belgian swimmer Joseph De Combe (2:59.2), and fellow American Bill Kirschbaum (3:01.0). He was the first American to set a world record for the 200-meter breaststroke.

Skelton died in Houston, Texas in 1977; he was 74 years old.

See also

• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• List of Northwestern University alumni
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 200 metres breaststroke

Sources

• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bob Skelton". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
• Robert Skelton (USA) – Honor Pioneer Swimmer profile at International Swimming Hall of Fame