Four gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics established Don Schollander as the most successful athlete of that competition. Born in Charlotte in 1946, the American swimmer became the first individual since Jesse Owens in 1936 to secure such a tally, cementing his status as a dominant figure in international competitive swimming during the mid-1960s.
Early Development and Training
Schollander learned the basics of competitive swimming from his uncle, Newt Perry, in Florida. After relocating to Lake Oswego, Oregon, he played football before shifting his full focus to the pool. He helped his high school team secure a state championship in 1960. In 1962, he moved to California to train with George Haines at the Santa Clara Swim Club, a partnership that proved pivotal to his rapid rise in the sport.
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At age 18, Schollander won three freestyle titles at the AAU national championships. His 1964 Olympic performance included setting three world records, which led to him receiving the James E. Sullivan Award and the Associated Press Athlete of the Year title. Following a brief period of health challenges, including mononucleosis and Asian Flu, he regained his speed under Haines's guidance during the summer of 1965.
Collegiate Years and Olympic Finale
While attending Yale College, Schollander served as swim team captain and earned three individual NCAA championships. He was affiliated with the Skull and Bones society and the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, he added a gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay to his career tally before retiring from competitive sports.
Post-Athletic Career
Schollander authored two books on the sport: Deep Water in 1971 and Inside Swimming in 1974. He later established a career in real estate development through his company, Schollander Development. He resides in Lake Oswego with his wife, Cheryl, and they have three children named Jeb, Kyle, and Katie. His collection of gold medals remains on public display in Lake Oswego.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Charlotte
- Education: Lake Oswego High School, Santa Clara High School, Yale College
- Awards: 1964 Associated Press Athlete of the Year
- Inductions: International Swimming Hall of Fame (1965), U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (1983)
- Olympic Medal Count: Five gold, one silver
- Author: Deep Water (1971), Inside Swimming (1974)
- Occupation: Real estate developer
- Children: Jeb, Kyle, Katie
Questions readers ask
How many total Olympic medals did Don Schollander win?
He won a total of five gold medals and one silver medal across the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics.
What is Don Schollander's current profession?
He runs Schollander Development, a real estate development company based in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Achievements
- Associated Press Athlete of the Year
- International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics
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