On October 10th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1964 during the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. American swimmer Don Schollander made history by winning his fourth gold medal of the Games in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
Schollander, who was only 18 years old at the time, had already won gold in the 100-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle, and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay earlier in the Olympics. His fourth gold medal in the medley relay made him the first swimmer to ever win four gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
In the 4×100-meter medley relay, Schollander swam the freestyle leg, following his teammates Thompson Mann (backstroke), Bill Craig (breaststroke), and Fred Schmidt (butterfly). The American team dominated the race, setting a new world record with a time of 3:58.4, nearly four seconds ahead of the silver medal-winning German team.
Schollander's incredible performance in Tokyo cemented his status as one of the greatest swimmers of his era. His four gold medals were a testament to his versatility, speed, and endurance in the pool. He would later be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements.
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics also marked a significant milestone in the history of the Games, as they were the first to be held in Asia. Schollander's record-breaking performance added to the excitement and momentum of the Games, which showcased the best athletes from around the world competing at the highest level of their sports.
