Jack Chapman Medica (October 5, 1914 – April 15, 1985) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Medica won a gold medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle in a new Olympic record time of 4:44.5. He received a silver medal for his second-place performance in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle, recording a final time of 19:34.0. Medica also received a second silver medal as a member of the runner-up U.S. team in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay, together with American teammates Ralph Flanagan, John Macionis and Paul Wolf. The American relay team finished with a time of 9:03.0, behind the winning Japanese team.After his retirement from competition swimming, brought on by World War II, Medica taught water survival for the U.S. Navy after his impaired vision kept him from enlisting. He went on to teach at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also coached the Penn Quakers swimming and diving team.Medica was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1966.
In 1935 Medica set a world record in the 200 meter freestyle that remained unbroken for nine years. Moreover, the year prior Medica also set a world record in the 400 meter freestyle that stood for seven years.
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Has the distinction of being the only American swimmer to win a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics.
Known for movies
Olympia 2. Teil - Fest der Schönheit 1938 as Himself - Swimmer, USA
$13 Million