Murray Rose: Swimming
Iain Murray Rose, AM (6 January 1939 – 15 April 2012) was a six-time Australian Olympic medalist in swimming. He was also an actor, a sports commentator and a marketing executive. At the age of 10, Rose as already breaking numerous records for swimming. He was only 17 when he participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, winning the 400-meter and 1500-meter races and became a member of the winning team in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Many years later after achieving success, he moved to America and studied acting in the University of California and graduated in 1962. Murray Rose starred in a number of films like Ride the Wild Surf and Ice Station Zebra.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Rose won three gold medals during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics for 400-m freestyle, 1500-m freestyle and the 4x200-m freestyle. During the 1960 Rome Olympics, he won a gold medal for the 400-m freestyle, a silver medal for the 1500-m freestyle and a bronze medal for the 4x200-m freestyle. In 1962, the Olympic swimmer was awarded the Helms Foundation World Trophy for his contribution to the sport and was one of the first swimmers that were inducted into the International Hall of Fame. In 2000, he received the Australian Sports Medal award as well as an appointed Member of the Order of Australia for his services to swimming. In 2001, Rose was awarded the Centenary Medal.
Why Was He So Good?
Murray Rose was recognized for his modern techniques that highlight power in the shoulders and back instead of the arms and legs.
What You May Not Know
- Rose married first wife Bobbie Whitby and adopted her daughter, Somerset. He married his second wife, Jodi Wintz, a ballerina on 1988 and had a son named Trevor in 1990.
- Rose supported charities like the Mary MacKillop Foundation and Patron of Rainbow Club Australia.
- Murray Rose was known for his vegetarian diet. At the time of his Olympic wins, Rose was Australia's best known vegetarian. He ate no meat at all, although unlike strict vegetarians, he did eat eggs and cheese and drank goats milk.
- He was not able to stay at the Olympic village as it could not cater to his vegetarian diet.
- Rose's Olympic record for the 400m in Melbourne was 44 seconds behind Ian Thorpe's winning time in Athens.
Was he a legend?
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Related Pages
- More Swimmer Profiles
- About Swimming
- Athlete Database home
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