Men 100m Freestyle Swimming XVII Olympic Games 1960 Rome, Italy - Friday, 26th August - Gold Medal: John Devitt, Australia
Final 21:10 time gapLY
1. John DevittAUS Australia55.2sOR 323
2. Lance LarsonUSA United States55.2sOR 420
3. Manuel Dos SantosBRA Brazil55.4s +0.2s621
4. Bruce HunterUSA United States55.6s +0.4s521
5. Gyula DobaiHUN Hungary56.3s +1.1s222
6. Dick PoundCAN Canada56.3s +1.1s118
7. Aubrey BurerSAF South Africa56.3s +1.1s821
8. Per-Ola LindbergSWE Sweden57.1s +1.9s720
51 Competitors from 34 Nations. Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto.
1964 Men 100m FreestyleMen 100m Freestyle History1956 Men 100m Freestyle
World Record: John Devitt, Australia54.6s Brisbanne , Australia 28th Januaty 1957
Olympic Record: Jon Henricks, Ausralia 55.4s Melbourne, 30 November 1956
Todor 66index Swimming OG
index Rome 1960index Swimming Rome 1960
Men 100m FreestyleWomen 100m Freestyle
Men 400m FreestyleWomen 400m Freestyle
Men 1500m Freestyle
Men 100m BackstrokeWomen 100m Backstroke
Men 200m BreaststrokeWomen 200m Breaststroke
Men 200m ButterflyWomen 100m Butterfly
Men 4x200m Freestyle RelayWomen 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Men 4x100m Medley RelayWomen 4x100m Medley Relay
The heats of the 100 freestyle were uneventful, as Larson, Devitt, Henricks, and Manuel dos Santos (BRA) all won their heats. The semi-finals were marked only by Jon Henricks failing to qualify, with the three heats being won by Devitt, Dos Santos, and Larson. Larson had the fastest semi-final time of 55.5, with Devitt posting a 55.8, both far from Devitt's world record of 54.6.
The finals were held on Friday, 26 August, at 9:10 (21:10) at night. Dos Santos started the fastest and led at 50 metres, with Devitt and Larson equal second at the turn. Dos Santos faded over the last 50 metres and Devitt came on with a rush. Larson also closed, but more slowly, catching Devitt again at about 80 metres. It appeared to most observers that Larson barely out-touched Devitt, although the result was very close. Before getting out of the pool, Devitt congratulated Lance Larson.

Semi-Finals (1/2) - Thursday, 26th October 20:30

Best 8 times advanced to Final.
Semi 1 time gapLYRk
1. Lance LarsonUSA United States55.5s 4201.
2. Bruce HunterUSA United States55.7s +0.2s3212.
3. Aubrey BurerSAF South Africa56.5s +1.0s5217.
4. Keigo ShimizuJPN Japan57.1s +1.6s22111.
5. Igor LuzhkovskyURS Soviet Union57.5s +2.0s12214.
6. Cameron GroutCAN Canada58.0s +2.5s72018.
7. Paul VoellGER UT Germany58.4s +2.9s82520.
8. Alain GottvallesFRA France58.5s +3.0s61822.
Semi 2 time gapLYRk
1. John DevittAUS Australia55.8s +0.3s4233.
2. Dick PoundCAN Canada56.5s +1.0s3187.
3. Andrzej SalamonPOL Poland56.9s +1.4s52410.
4. Jon HenricksAUS Australia57.2s +1.7s62512.
5. Uwe JacobsenGER UT Germany57.4s +1.9s11913.
6. Laszlo LantosHUN Hungary58.0s +2.5s22118.
7. Vitaly SorokinURS Soviet Union58.7s +3.2s82423.
7. Jorge EscalanteMEX Mexico59.0s +3.5s72024.
1. Manuel Dos SantosBRA Brazil56.3s +0.8s4214.
2. Gyula DobaiHUN Hungary56.3s +0.8s5225.
3. Per-Ola LindbergSWE Sweden56.4s +0.9s6206.
4. Karri Kalervo KayhkoFIN Finland56.6s +1.1s3229.
5. Bernard AluchnaPOL Poland57.8s +2.3s72315.
6. Katsuki IshiharaJPN Japan57.8s +2.3s22115.
7. Ronald Ron KroonNED Netherlands57.9s +2.4s11717.
8. Ezio Della SaviaITA Italy58.4s +2.9s81820.

Heats - Friday 26th October 08:30

Best 24 times advanced to Semi-Finals (1/2)>.
Heat 7 time gapLYRk
1. Lance LarsonUSA United States55.7s 4201.
2. Aubrey BurerSAF South Africa56.3s +0.6s6213.
3. Katsuki IshiharaJPN Japan57.5s +1.8s52115.
4. Bernard AluchnaPOL Poland57.9s +2.2s82319.
5. Paul VoellGER UT Germany58.0s +2.3s32522.
6. William O'DonnellGBR Great Britain59.2s +3.5s21833.
7. Gojko ArneriYUG Yugoslavia1:00.5 +4.8s72439.
8. Itzhak LuriaISR Israel1:00.9 +5.2s11942.
Heat 6 time gapLYRk
1. Bruce HunterUSA United States56.6s +0.9s4217.
2. Dick PoundCAN Canada56.7s +1.0s6188.
3. Ruben Alejandro Roca RosilloCUB Cuba58.3s +2.6s21925.
4. Janez KocmurYUG Yugoslavia58.7s +3.0s52228.
5. Giorgio PerondiniITA Italy58.9s +3.2s32230.
6. Phan Huu DongVNM South Vietnam1:01.3 +5.6s72144.
7. Unsal FikirciTUR Turkey1:03.0 +7.3s12046.
Heat 5 time gapLYRk
1. Jon HenricksAUS Australia56.9s +1.2s42510.
2. Per-Ola LindbergSWE Sweden57.1s +1.4s52012.
3. Laszlo LantosHUN Hungary57.4s +1.7s32114.
4. Stanley ClarkeGBR Great Britain59.1s +3.4s22231.
5. Fernando Nabuco De AbreuBRA Brazil1:00.1 +4.4s71636.
6. Gudmundur GislassonISL Iceland1:00.8 +5.1s61941.
7. Frederico ElizaldePHI Philippines1:03.0 +7.3s12046.
8. Christopher DowlingMLT Malta1:08.9 +13.2s81651.
Heat 4 time gapLYRk
1. Gyula DobaiHUN Hungary56.5s +0.8s4225.
2. Vitaly SorokinURS Soviet Union58.2s +2.5s32423.
3. Bengt NordwallSWE Sweden58.5s +2.8s51927.
4. Jan BouwmanNED Netherlands58.8s +3.1s62429.
5. Amiram TrauberISR Israel59.7s +4.0s72135.
6. Kin-Man CheungHKG Hong Kong1:01.1 +5.4s22843.
Heat 3 time gapLYRk
1. Manuel Dos SantosBRA Brazil56.3s +0.6s4213.
2. Andrzej SalamonPOL Poland56.5s +0.8s8245.
4. Jorge EscalanteMEX Mexico57.6s +1.9s32016.
3. Cameron GroutCAN Canada57.6s +1.9s62016.
5. Ronald Ron KroonNED Netherlands57.7s +2.0s51718.
6. Gerard GropaizFRA France59.3s +3.6s21734.
7. Peter BartschiSUI Switzerland1:02.9 +7.2s12445.
-. Murray McLachlanSAF South AfricaDNS 719-.
Heat 2 time gapLYRk
1. John DevittAUS Australia56.0s +0.3s4232.
2. Alain GottvallesFRA France56.9s +1.2s31810.
4. Uwe JacobsenGER UT Germany57.9s +2.2s61919.
3. Igor LuzhkovskyURS Soviet Union57.9s +2.2s52219.
6. Luis NicolaoARG Argentina1:00.2 +4.5s21637.
8. Alfred GrixtiMLT Malta1:07.8 +12.1s81750.
Heat 1 time gapLYRk
1. Karri Kalervo KayhkoFIN Finland56.8s +1.1s4229.
2. Keigo ShimizuJPN Japan57.3s +1.6s52113.
3. Ezio Della SaviaITA Italy58.2s +2.5s21823.
4. Gert KolliAUT Austria58.3s +2.6s32025.
5. Achmad DimyatiINA Indonesia59.1s +3.4s72131.
5. Herlander Felga RibeiroPOR Portugal1:00.2 +4.5s71737.
6. Leopoldo Rodes ParesESP Spain1:00.7 +5.0s62140.
7. Seow Jit FongMAS Malaya1:03.4 +7.7s11848.
7. Rene WagnerLUX Luxembourg1:04.3 +8.6s12249.
Final 21:10 time gapLYRk
1. John DevittAUS Australia55.2sOR 3231.
2. Lance LarsonUSA United States55.2sOR 4202.
3. Manuel Dos SantosBRA Brazil55.4s +0.2s6213.
4. Bruce HunterUSA United States55.6s +0.4s5214.
5. Gyula DobaiHUN Hungary56.3s +1.1s2225.
6. Dick PoundCAN Canada56.3s +1.1s1186.
7. Aubrey BurerSAF South Africa56.3s +1.1s8217.
8. Per-Ola LindbergSWE Sweden57.1s +1.9s7208.
Semis time gapLYRk
1. Lance LarsonUSA United States55.5s 4201.
2. Bruce HunterUSA United States55.7s +0.2s3212.
1. John DevittAUS Australia55.8s +0.3s4233.
1. Manuel Dos SantosBRA Brazil56.3s +0.8s4214.
2. Gyula DobaiHUN Hungary56.3s +0.8s5225.
3. Per-Ola LindbergSWE Sweden56.4s +0.9s6206.
3. Aubrey BurerSAF South Africa56.5s +1.0s5217.
2. Dick PoundCAN Canada56.5s +1.0s3187.
4. Karri Kalervo KayhkoFIN Finland56.6s +1.1s3229.
3. Andrzej SalamonPOL Poland56.9s +1.4s52410.
4. Keigo ShimizuJPN Japan57.1s +1.6s22111.
4. Jon HenricksAUS Australia57.2s +1.7s62512.
5. Uwe JacobsenGER UT Germany57.4s +1.9s11913.
5. Igor LuzhkovskyURS Soviet Union57.5s +2.0s12214.
5. Bernard AluchnaPOL Poland57.8s +2.3s72315.
6. Katsuki IshiharaJPN Japan57.8s +2.3s22115.
7. Ronald Ron KroonNED Netherlands57.9s +2.4s11717.
6. Cameron GroutCAN Canada58.0s +2.5s72018.
6. Laszlo LantosHUN Hungary58.0s +2.5s22118.
8. Ezio Della SaviaITA Italy58.4s +2.9s81820.
7. Paul VoellGER UT Germany58.4s +2.9s82520.
8. Alain GottvallesFRA France58.5s +3.0s61822.
7. Vitaly SorokinURS Soviet Union58.7s +3.2s82423.
7. Jorge EscalanteMEX Mexico59.0s +3.5s72024.
Heats time gapLYRk
1. Lance LarsonUSA United States55.7s 4201.
1. John DevittAUS Australia56.0s +0.3s4232.
2. Aubrey BurerSAF South Africa56.3s +0.6s6213.
1. Manuel Dos SantosBRA Brazil56.3s +0.6s4213.
1. Gyula DobaiHUN Hungary56.5s +0.8s4225.
2. Andrzej SalamonPOL Poland56.5s +0.8s8245.
1. Bruce HunterUSA United States56.6s +0.9s4217.
2. Dick PoundCAN Canada56.7s +1.0s6188.
1. Karri Kalervo KayhkoFIN Finland56.8s +1.1s4229.
2. Alain GottvallesFRA France56.9s +1.2s31810.
1. Jon HenricksAUS Australia56.9s +1.2s42510.
2. Per-Ola LindbergSWE Sweden57.1s +1.4s52012.
2. Keigo ShimizuJPN Japan57.3s +1.6s52113.
3. Laszlo LantosHUN Hungary57.4s +1.7s32114.
3. Katsuki IshiharaJPN Japan57.5s +1.8s52115.
4. Jorge EscalanteMEX Mexico57.6s +1.9s32016.
3. Cameron GroutCAN Canada57.6s +1.9s62016.
5. Ronald Ron KroonNED Netherlands57.7s +2.0s51718.
4. Bernard AluchnaPOL Poland57.9s +2.2s82319.
4. Uwe JacobsenGER UT Germany57.9s +2.2s61919.
3. Igor LuzhkovskyURS Soviet Union57.9s +2.2s52219.
5. Paul VoellGER UT Germany58.0s +2.3s32522.
3. Ezio Della SaviaITA Italy58.2s +2.5s21823.
2. Vitaly SorokinURS Soviet Union58.2s +2.5s32423.
4. Gert KolliAUT Austria58.3s +2.6s32025.
3. Ruben Alejandro Roca RosilloCUB Cuba58.3s +2.6s21925.
3. Bengt NordwallSWE Sweden58.5s +2.8s51927.
4. Janez KocmurYUG Yugoslavia58.7s +3.0s52228.
4. Jan BouwmanNED Netherlands58.8s +3.1s62429.
5. Giorgio PerondiniITA Italy58.9s +3.2s32230.
4. Stanley ClarkeGBR Great Britain59.1s +3.4s22231.
5. Achmad DimyatiINA Indonesia59.1s +3.4s72131.
6. William O'DonnellGBR Great Britain59.2s +3.5s21833.
6. Gerard GropaizFRA France59.3s +3.6s21734.
5. Amiram TrauberISR Israel59.7s +4.0s72135.
5. Fernando Nabuco De AbreuBRA Brazil1:00.1 +4.4s71636.
6. Luis NicolaoARG Argentina1:00.2 +4.5s21637.
5. Herlander Felga RibeiroPOR Portugal1:00.2 +4.5s71737.
7. Gojko ArneriYUG Yugoslavia1:00.5 +4.8s72439.
6. Leopoldo Rodes ParesESP Spain1:00.7 +5.0s62140.
6. Gudmundur GislassonISL Iceland1:00.8 +5.1s61941.
8. Itzhak LuriaISR Israel1:00.9 +5.2s11942.
6. Kin-Man CheungHKG Hong Kong1:01.1 +5.4s22843.
6. Phan Huu DongVNM South Vietnam1:01.3 +5.6s72144.
7. Peter BartschiSUI Switzerland1:02.9 +7.2s12445.
7. Frederico ElizaldePHI Philippines1:03.0 +7.3s12046.
7. Unsal FikirciTUR Turkey1:03.0 +7.3s12046.
7. Seow Jit FongMAS Malaya1:03.4 +7.7s11848.
7. Rene WagnerLUX Luxembourg1:04.3 +8.6s12249.
8. Alfred GrixtiMLT Malta1:07.8 +12.1s81750.
8. Christopher DowlingMLT Malta1:08.9 +13.2s81651.
-. Murray McLachlanSAF South AfricaDNS 719-.
The 1960 Olympics were held in the days prior to automatic starting pistols, automatic touch pads, and electronic timing. There was an electronic timer at Rome, but it was used as a back-up system only. Results in 1960 were decided by finish judges who relied on their eyes and did not use replays. There were three first-place judges and three second-place judges. Of the three first-place judges, they were split, 2-1, favoring Devitt. The three second-place judges also favored Devitt for second, by 2-1. Therefore, the six judges were split, 3-3, in terms of who won.
There were three official timers in 1960 for each lane and swimmer, all timing by hand. All three timers for Devitt, in lane three, timed him in 55.2 seconds. The three timers for lane four, had timed Larson in 55.0, 55.1, and 55.1 seconds; thus timing seemed to favor Larson. The judges then turned to the electronic back-up timer to break the tie. The electronic timing had Larson in 55.10 seconds and Devitt in 55.16 seconds, a difference of about 4 inches. Using both the hand times and the electronic times, Larson's time should have been listed as 55.1 seconds, with Devitt at 55.2.
After a long delay, the chief judge, Henry Runstr's of Sweden cast the deciding vote and declared Devitt the winner. He ruled that Larson would be given the time of 55.2 seconds. However, the rules at that time did not provide for the chief judge to have a vote or give him the right to break ties. Ties were supposed to be broken by referring to the timing machine. The United States' team appealed. The appeal jury, headed by Jan de Vries (NED), also the President of the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) in 1960, rejected the appeal, keeping Devitt the winner.
.

Prepared and maintained by Todor Krastev

todor1966@yahoo.com
Last updated: 17 Apr 2023
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