Henry Kozlowski

Henry A. Kozlowski (b. circa 1923) was an American swimmer who set the world record in the 50 yard freestyle race in 1943, a record which stood for almost 11 years.

Kozlowski was from Chicago[1] and attended Lane Tech high school,[2] where he already proved to be a very fast swimmer, and set a scholastic record in the 100 free.

On March 27, 1943, while swimming for Northwestern University, he broke the world record in the 50 yard freestyle by swimming 22.1 seconds, breaking the 20-year-old record set by Duke Kahanamoku.[1][3][4] Before swimming for Northwestern, he briefly attended Ohio State in the fall of 1941 and then attended Illinois University for a semester, before moving to Northwestern.[5] Before leaving Illinois for financial reasons, he was already swimming times in practice to equal or beat the existing records in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle races,[6] and held the national scholastic 100 yard freestyle record of 52.4 records.[7] He also played football for Northwestern in the fall of 1942.[8]

Kozloswki entered the United States Army the month after setting his world record.[8] He indicated in a December 1944 article in a U.S. Army newspaper that he intended to return to college swimming after the war,[8] but it is unclear if he did so. He did swim at an exhibition meet in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin in June 1949 where he was billed as the "world's fastest human in water."[9]

Dick Cleveland beat Kozlowski's 50 yard record in early 1954, swimming 21.9 seconds.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b (8 May 1943). Unheralded Swimmer Proves to be World's Titleholder, Battle Creek Enquirer
  2. ^ (28 February 1942). In the Wake of the News, Chicago Daily Tribune
  3. ^ Northwestern Frosh Smashes Freestyle Mark, Akron Beacon Journal ("slashing .5 seconds from a world record that had stood 20 years. ... The mark was set in 1923 by Duke Kahanamoku of Hawaii and matched in 1934 by Peter Fick.")
  4. ^ (31 March 1943). The Mournin' Aftah!, Daily Illini
  5. ^ (16 February 1943). Wildcat Swimmer Big Ten Traveler, The Ohio State Lantern
  6. ^ (4 March 1942). Henry Kozlowski, Ace Swimmer, Quits School, Daily Illini
  7. ^ (27 March 1943). Kozlowski Breaks 50-Yard Swim Record, Daily Illini
  8. ^ a b c (7 December 1944). Free-Style Swim Champion Here, The Bayonet
  9. ^ (23 June 1949). Advertisement, Wisconsin Dells Events
  10. ^ (7 February 1954). Swimming Mark Set By Dick Cleveland, Ohio State Standout, Cincinnati Enquirer ("Ohio State's Dick Cleveland today broker the American 50-yard freestyle record ... in 0:21.9, breaking the previous record which he tied last year, of 0:22.1. The old record was set by Hank Koslowski of Northwestern in 1943. There is no recognzied world record for this event.")