Jack Medica

Champion competitive swimmer Jack Medica was born on October 5, 1914 in Seattle, Washington. Medica was asked to be a member of the 800 meter relay team at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California while still a senior in high school. During his four years as a member of the swim team at the University of Washington Jack not only won nine national collegiate championships which include the 220, 440, and 1,500 meter freestyles three years in a row, but also held eleven world records for various strokes and distances. Medica went on to win a gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle and a silver medal in the 1,500 meter freestyle at the 1936 Olympic games held in Berlin, Germany.Following graduation from college Jack participated in competitions in such places as Cuba, China, Japan, Europe, New Zealand, and the Philippines. After World War II broke out Medica quit competitive swimming to focus instead on coaching: He was a swimming coach at Columbia University for two years before he eventually joined the coaching staff at the University of Pennsylvania and took over as coach of the varsity swim team in 1944 (he remained as a full-time coach and trainer at Penn State until 1958). Jack continued to teach physical education prior to retiring in 1976. Medica was inducted as an Honor Swimmer into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966 and subsequently inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame in 1981. He died at age 70 on April 15, 1985 in Carson City, Nevada. Show less «