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Wally O'Connor

Full name: James Wallace "Wally" O'Connor
Gender: Male
Born: August 25, 1903 in Madera, California, United States
Died: October 11, 1950 in West Los Angeles, California, United States
Affiliations: LAAC, Los Angeles (USA)
Country: USA United States
Sport: Water Polo, Swimming

Medals: 1 Gold, 2 Bronze (3 Total)

Biography

A four-time Olympian, Wally O'Connor is rated as the greatest U.S. water polo player of all time. Although he was a water polo specialist, his Olympic gold came as a swimmer when the U.S. won the relay in 1924 with a new world record. O'Connor was, in fact, an outstanding swimmer and won the 220y and 440y freestyle for Stanford at the 1926 NCAA championships. Most of his water polo was played for the Los Angeles AC, and at his fourth Olympics in Berlin, Wally O'Connor accompanied the U.S. flag bearer at the opening ceremonies as a member of the color guard. O'Connor made a fifth Olympic team in 1940, but the war in Europe prevented those Games from being held.

Results

Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Rank Medal
1924 Summer 20 Paris Water Polo Men's Water Polo United States USA 3 Bronze
1924 Summer 20 Paris Swimming Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay United States USA 1 Gold WR
1928 Summer 24 Amsterdam Water Polo Men's Water Polo United States USA 5T
1932 Summer 28 Los Angeles Water Polo Men's Water Polo United States USA 3 Bronze
1936 Summer 32 Berlin Water Polo Men's Water Polo United States USA 9T

Men's Water Polo

Event History
Games Age City Sport Team NOC Phase Unit Rank Date Result G
1924 Summer 20 Paris Water Polo United States USA Round One Match #3 2 1924-07-13 FRA 3, USA 1 1
1928 Summer 24 Amsterdam Water Polo United States USA Third-Place Tournament Match #2 2 1928-08-11 FRA 2, USA 1 1
1932 Summer 28 Los Angeles Water Polo United States USA Round-Robin Match #2 1 1932-08-06 USA 6, BRA 1 0
1932 Summer 28 Los Angeles Water Polo United States USA Round-Robin Match #4 1 1932-08-07 USA 10, JPN 0 2
1932 Summer 28 Los Angeles Water Polo United States USA Round-Robin Match #6 1T 1932-08-09 USA 4, GER 4 0
1932 Summer 28 Los Angeles Water Polo United States USA Round-Robin Match #7 2 1932-08-11 HUN 7, USA 0 0
1936 Summer 32 Berlin Water Polo United States USA Group A Match #2 2 1936-08-08 NED 3, USA 2 1
1936 Summer 32 Berlin Water Polo United States USA Group A Match #3 1 1936-08-09 USA 2, URU 1 0
1936 Summer 32 Berlin Water Polo United States USA Group A Match #6 2 1936-08-10 BEL 4, USA 3 1

Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay

Event History
Games Age City Sport Team NOC Phase Unit Rank T
1924 Summer 20 Paris Swimming United States USA Final 1 WR 9:53.4
1924 Summer 20 Paris Swimming United States USA Semi-Finals Heat Two 1 QU/WR 9:59.4
1924 Summer 20 Paris Swimming United States USA Round One Heat One 1 QU 10:41.6