John Macionis
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Macionis (born May 27, 1916) is a former American
swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Philadelphia, Macionis swam for Big Brothers, Germantown Y.M.C.A., and Central High School
, where he captained the swim team and set a world's record in the 200 yard freestyle in 1933. He spent the next year at Mercersburg Academy
('34), where he swam under the famous coach John "King" Miller, and set two additional national freestyle records. Continuing his swimming career at Yale University
('38), he swam under the legendary coach Bob Kiputh. He soon held all of that team's freestyle records, as well as the school records for the individual medley and the 220 breaststroke. In 1936, he became the first Yale swimmer to compete in the Olympic games. In Berlin, he won a silver medal in the 4×200 m freestyle relay event and was fourth in his semifinal of the 400 m freestyle event and did not advance. Due to World War II
, the Olympic Games were canceled. But a committee was established by the International Swimming Hall of Fame
to recognize those U.S. swimmers who would have qualified for the Olympic Team that year. Macionis was one of those so recognized. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame in State College, Pennsylvania.
He continued to swim in master's competition and, at age sixty-five, he held five world records for his age group. Macionis was also an active swimming official in the northeast, and especially in the Philadelphia region, for more than fifty years. He retired from officiating in 2009, and the last meet he officiated was a NCAA dual meet between LaSalle University and the University of Pennsylvania. He continued swimming every day until the age of ninety-four, when his health would no longer allow him to continue.
Macionis lives with his wife of sixty-seven years, May, in Charlottesville, Virginia
. His son Robert is active in many Charlottesville organizations; his son John is the noted textbook author and professor of sociology at Kenyon College.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
Born in Philadelphia, Macionis swam for Big Brothers, Germantown Y.M.C.A., and Central High School
Central High School (Philadelphia)
Central High School is a public secondary school in the Logan section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Central, the second-oldest continuously public high school in the United States , was founded in 1836 and is a four-year university preparatory magnet school...
, where he captained the swim team and set a world's record in the 200 yard freestyle in 1933. He spent the next year at Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
('34), where he swam under the famous coach John "King" Miller, and set two additional national freestyle records. Continuing his swimming career at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
('38), he swam under the legendary coach Bob Kiputh. He soon held all of that team's freestyle records, as well as the school records for the individual medley and the 220 breaststroke. In 1936, he became the first Yale swimmer to compete in the Olympic games. In Berlin, he won a silver medal in the 4×200 m freestyle relay event and was fourth in his semifinal of the 400 m freestyle event and did not advance. Due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Olympic Games were canceled. But a committee was established by the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
to recognize those U.S. swimmers who would have qualified for the Olympic Team that year. Macionis was one of those so recognized. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame in State College, Pennsylvania.
He continued to swim in master's competition and, at age sixty-five, he held five world records for his age group. Macionis was also an active swimming official in the northeast, and especially in the Philadelphia region, for more than fifty years. He retired from officiating in 2009, and the last meet he officiated was a NCAA dual meet between LaSalle University and the University of Pennsylvania. He continued swimming every day until the age of ninety-four, when his health would no longer allow him to continue.
Macionis lives with his wife of sixty-seven years, May, in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. His son Robert is active in many Charlottesville organizations; his son John is the noted textbook author and professor of sociology at Kenyon College.