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Robert Brawner

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Robert Brawner
Personal information
Full nameRobert Lowry Brawner
Nickname"Ace"
National team United States
Born(1929-11-22)November 22, 1929
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 30, 2022(2022-08-30) (aged 92)
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke
College teamPrinceton University
Medal record
Representing the United States
US vs. Japan Dual Meets
Gold medal – first place 1950 Osaka 200 yd breaststroke[1]
Gold medal – first place 1950 Osaka 100 yd breaststroke[2]
Silver medal – second place 1950 Tokyo 100 yd breaststroke[3]

Robert Lowry Brawner (November 22, 1929 – August 30, 2022) was an American swimmer for Princeton University who held a world record in the 200-yard (short course) breaststroke and held four American records.[4]

Biography

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Brawner was born on November 22, 1929.[5] A four-time All-American in swimming at Princeton University, he was the Eastern Intercollegiate League Champion for three years 1950-1952 in the 200 yd/220 yd breaststroke. Brawner was also the double NCAA champion in the 100 yd and 200 yd/220 yd breaststroke for 1950 and 1951.

In his first American record came in 1949 with the 200 yard breaststroke (20 yard) with a time of 2:16.7.[6] His world record came in 1950 at the Eastern Intercollegiate Championships in the 200 yd breaststroke (short course) beating the former record holder Joe Verdeur in 2:14.2.[7]

At the National AAU Indoor Championships in 1950, Brawner won the 220 yd breaststroke (short course) and set the American record in 2:29.3 beating the former record holder Joe Verdeur who was second in 2:29.4.[8] This race was dual timed for both the 200 meter and 220 yard distances (short course). During the race, Verdeur broke the world record for 200 meters with a time of 2:28.3. Although this was the fastest 220 yard breaststroke (short course) in history, it stood only as the American record since FINA only recognized the 200 yard and 200 meter distances for world record purposes.

Brawner set another American record in the summer of 1950 in the 220 yd breaststroke (long course) at the National AAU Outdoor Championships when Brawner won in a time of 2:41 flat beating Bowen Stassforth who was second in 2:41.3.[9] He was selected in 1950 as part of the American national swim team in several dual meets held in Japan.[10] This was the first time the American swim team had defeated Japan on Japanese soil.[11] At the second dual meet held in Osaka, Brawner won the 100 yd breaststroke and 200 yd breaststroke.[12]

At the 1951 National AAU Outdoor Championships in the 100 m breaststroke (long course), Brawner was second to John Davies, but set the American record in the 100 m breaststroke (long course) in the preliminaries with a time of 1:08.3[13] At the 1952 US Olympic Trials, Brawner was seventh in the 200 m Breaststroke with a time of 2:44.9.[14][15] Brawner died on August 30, 2022, at the age of 92.[16]

Record notes

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The world record for the 200 meter breaststroke prior the bifurcation of the butterfly breaststroke into separate strokes in 1953 could be accomplished in either short or long course pools. FINA recognized only one world record for the 200 meter breaststroke. Brawner held the following records in his career:

  • 200 yd breaststroke American Record (20 yard course), March 18, 1950 – June 20, 1952[17]
  • World record 200 yd breaststroke (short course), March 17, 1950 – March 29, 1952[18]
  • 220 yd breaststroke American record progression (long course), July 22, 1950 – August 27, 1952[19]
  • 220 yd breaststroke American record (short course), March 31, 1950 – April 4, 1952[20]

National competitions

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  • Amateur Athletic Union Outdoor Championships
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 220 yd breaststroke (1950)[21]
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m breaststroke (1951)[22]
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m breaststroke (1949)[23]
    • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 200 m breaststroke (1951)[24]
  • AAU Indoor Championships
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 220 yd breaststroke (1950)[25]
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 220 yd breaststroke (1951)[26]
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 yd breaststroke (1951)[27]
    • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 200 m breaststroke (1949)[28]
  • NCAA Championships
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 220 yd breaststroke (1951)[29]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 yd breaststroke (1951)[30]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 yd breaststroke (1950)[31]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 yd breaststroke (1950)[32]
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 yd breaststroke (1952)[33]
    • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 200 yd breaststroke (1952)[34]
  • Eastern Intercollegiate League Championships
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 yd breaststroke (1952)[35]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 yd breaststroke (1952)[36]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 220 yd breaststroke (1951)[37]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 yd breaststroke (1950)[38]
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 yd breaststroke (1950)[39]

References

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  1. ^ Los Angeles Times 13 August 1950 Page B13
  2. ^ Los Angeles Times 14 August 1950 Page C4
  3. ^ New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1
  4. ^ New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1
  5. ^ California Birth Index
  6. ^ New York Times 31 March 1949 Page 35
  7. ^ New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17
  8. ^ New York Times 1 April 1950 Page 23
  9. ^ New York Times 23 July 1950 Page S3
  10. ^ Aims Daily Tribune 25 July 1950 Page 16
  11. ^ New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1
  12. ^ New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1
  13. ^ New York Times 27 July 1951 Page 30
  14. ^ Los Angeles Times 7 July 1952 Page C2
  15. ^ Page 124 1952 US Olympic Book-Report of the US Olympic Committee
  16. ^ "Robert L. Brawner '52". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Iowa City Press-Citizen 21 June 1952 Page 8
  18. ^ New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17
  19. ^ New York Times 1 April 1950 Page 23
  20. ^ Panama City News Herald 23 July 1950 Page 9
  21. ^ New York Times 1 April 1950 Page 23
  22. ^ New York Times 27 July 1951 Page 30
  23. ^ New York Times 20 August 1949 Page 15
  24. ^ New York Times 28 July 1951 Page 21
  25. ^ New York Times 23 July 1950 Page S3
  26. ^ New York Times 7 April 1951 Page 24
  27. ^ New York Times 8 April 1951 Page 159
  28. ^ New York Times 2 April 1949 Page 19
  29. ^ New York Times 31 March 1951 Page 22
  30. ^ New York Times 1 April 1951 Page 155
  31. ^ New York Times 25 March 1950 Page 155
  32. ^ New York Times 25 March 1950 Page 155
  33. ^ New York Times 30 March 1952 Page S1
  34. ^ Los Angeles Times 29 March 1952 Page B2
  35. ^ New York Times 15 March 1952 Page S1
  36. ^ New York Times 15 March 1952 Page S1
  37. ^ New York Times 17 March 1951 Page 25
  38. ^ New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17
  39. ^ New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17
Records
Preceded by Men's 200 yd breaststroke
American Record(20 yard course)
March 18, 1950-June 20, 1952 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 200 yd breaststroke
World record-holder(short course)
March 17, 1950-March 29, 1952 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 220 yd breaststroke
American record-holder(long course)
July 22, 1950-August 27, 1952 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 220 yd breaststroke
American record-holder(short course)
March 31, 1950-April 4, 1952 		Succeeded by
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