America's oldest living Olympic champion, Adolph Kiefer dies at 98

Sunday, 7 May 2017

The US Olympic committee confirms that Adolf Kiefer, a 1936 Olympic swimming gold medalist who was America's oldest living Olympic champion has died at the age of 98. Kiefer suffered from neuropathy in his legs and hands and was confined to a wheelchair, but he continued swimming daily.
A statement by his company reads, 'a man larger than life, Adolph had such a huge passion and joy for swimming.

He has touched many in this industry and paved the way for future athletes with his historic swimming career".

Kiefer's record-breaking career began when he was a 16-year-old high school student. He was the first person in the world to break the one-minute mark in the 100-yard backstroke -- and months later he became the youngest member of the US Olympic team. In 1936, Kiefer won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke competition at the Olympic games in Berlin, setting a record that would stand for 20 years.