American swimmer (Olympic gold-medalist) and actor, known as the 'original Tarzan'. (For more information, see Wikipedia...)

• Johnny Weissmuller was born in 1904 in Hungary, which then was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. His father Petrus was an officer in the army; his mother Elisabeth Kresch worked in a tobacco factory. His godparents were Janos Borstner and Kathariina Erbesz. As an infant, Johnny emigrated with his parents to the United states. They sailed from Rotterdam on the S.S. Rotterdam on January 14, 1905, and arrived at Ellis Island in New York harbor twelve days later.
• Johnny was encouraged to pick up swimming as a therapy for polio, which he was diagnosed with at age nine. At the age of 18, he broke his first world record, in the 100-meters freestyle. Between 1922-1928, he won five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal, fifty-two United States National Championships, and set sixty-seven world records. He never lost a race and retired with an unbeaten Amateur record. His Olympic medals include...
  • 1924 Paris Olympics: gold in the 100m freestyle
  • 1924 Paris Olympics: gold in the 400m freestyle
  • 1924 Paris Olympics: gold in the 4x200m freestyle
  • 1928 Amsterdam Olympics: gold in the 100m freestyle
  • 1928 Amsterdam Olympics: gold in the 4x200m freestyle
• In 1929, Johnny Weissmuller embarked on a Hollywood acting career that ran through 1954. He became best know for being the 'original Tarzan' (and for the famous 'Tarzan call'), and the role of 'Jungle Jim'.
• Later in life, he invested in (unsuccessful) business ventures that ultimately left him broke.
• Johnny Weissmuller married five times, and had three children from his third wife, Beryl Scott. He also adopted the daughter of his fifth wife Maria Bauman.