Johnny Weissmuller Life made with the help of sport
Johnny WeissmullerLife made with the help of sport
My first interestMy first interest Some time ago I looked reporting
on competitions of disabled people. I felt pity for them, because I thought that they suffer. But my mother says that sport is their life. Training makes them feel themselves strong and they realize that they aren’t disabled. And sport is a new start for many disabled people. That was the first time when I heard about a great sportsman and famous actor Johnny Weissmuller.
Some words from an Some words from an encyclopedia encyclopedia Johnny Weissmuller
(born Peter Johann Weissmuller; June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984) was an American competition swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s and for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century. Weissmuller was one of the world's fastest swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals for swimming and one bronze medal for water polo. He won fifty-two US National Championships, set sixty-seven world records and was undefeated in official competition. After his swimming career, he became the sixth actor to portray Edgar Burroughts's ape man, Tarzan, a role he played in twelve motion pictures. Dozens of other actors also played Tarzan, but Weissmuller was the best known.
Johnny Weissmuller was a usual kid in poor family of emigrants. He was diseased and weak, his body was deformed after nasty illness – poliomyelitis. His doctor recommended him to swim. And a coach noticed him in the swimming pool. Sport saved poor and restless boy from bad life.
Tenacity, desire to achieve something, talent and regular training let Johnny succeed. During 10 years he never lost and set about 70 world records. His best achievement – 100 meters for 51.0 seconds was beaten only 17 years later! His achievements are: 5 gold Olympic medals, a huge number of victories on competitions, world fame, many fans. He was an ideal sportsmen, who achieved the big American dream.
The handsome andyoung sportsman wasinvited to act in themovies. Hismost famous role isTarzan.
It wasn’t necessary for him to have acting skills, he only needed to swim and run, e.g. to be a handsome prehistoric sportsman. Sport gave him the opportunity to succeed in acting career.
Americans remember their champion. And all the world remembers handsome and athletics actor. His achievements and cups are presented in Olympic Hall of Fame, and I have found a coin with his portrait.