1936 Olympic Champion, 96 years old, still loves to swim

Hitler saw the 1936 Olympic Games as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy.

See Adolph Kiefer’s Chicago Tribune video feature here.

Adolph Kiefer was born in 1918, back in the days of Babe Ruth and the Red Baron.

Kiefer was swimming by 9 years old and lived the Olympic Dream, perhaps a dream more infamous than most of his elite swimming peers. Kiefer represented Team USA at the 1936 Olympic Games, the Nazi Games as they were called because they were held in Berlin, Germany when Hitler was in power. Kiefer won Olympic gold in the 100 meter backstroke in record time, 1:05.9, a standard that stood for over 20 years.  Kiefer added many more honors to his name over the years; world record holder, first man under a minute in the 100 yard backstroke. Ultimately Kiefer became a successful aquatic businessman and inventor, an industry leader in aquatic retail for over 50 years.

Kiefer is no stranger to his swimming roots. He still appears at swim meets, notably the spectacular US Olympic Swimming Trials, enjoying standing ovations when introduced to the crowd 15,000 strong between events.