John Ferris (swimmer)

John E. Ferris
Ferris around 19, Olympic photo, 1968
Personal information
Full nameJohn Edward Ferris
National teamUnited States
Born(1949-07-24)July 24, 1949
Sacramento, California
DiedSeptember 13, 2020(2020-09-13) (aged 71)[1]
Walnut Creek, California
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly, individual medley
ClubArden Hills Swim Club
College teamStanford University
CoachJames Gaughran (Stanford)
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City 200 m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City 200 m medley
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 200 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1970 Turin 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1970 Turin 200 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1970 Turin 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1967 Tokyo 400 m medley

John Edward Ferris (July 24, 1949 – September 13, 2020) was an American competition swimmer, for Stanford University, a winer of two bronze medals in the 1968 Olympics, and a one time world record-holder.

S. Chavoor (c), and Olympians S. Pedersen (l) and D. Meyer (r)

Ferris was born on July 24, 1949 in Sacramento, California, to James and Ida Ferris and attended Rio Americano High School in greater Sacramento.[2] He did much of his early training at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento under Hall of Fame Coach Sherm Chavoor who had coached many great American Olympians including Mark Spitz, Debbie Meyer, and Mark J. Burton, each of whom would also swim in the 1968 Olympics with Ferris. A standout at only around 15 while swimming for Arden Hills in June, 1964, Ferris swam a 55.2 for the 100-yard butterfly breaking an age group record in the Junior Olympics, while also placing first in the 100 freestyle with a 1:56.5.[3][4]

At peak intensity, Ferris's training at Arden Hills could include three workouts a day, and average as much as 80 miles a week.[4][5] His sisters Carolyn and Joan also swam for Arden Hills, and Carolyn would later set age group records with masters swimming and coach the Woodlands Masters Swim Team in Houston.[6]

  1. ^ John Ferris' obituary
  2. ^ "Obituary, Ferris, John", The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, 27 September 2020, pg. C9
  3. ^ "Junior Olympic Summaries", The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, 7 June 1964, pg. 78
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Stanford Men's Swimming and Diving, Remembering John Ferris". gostanford.com.
  6. ^ "United States Masters Swimming, Carolyn Ferris". usms.org.