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The 1960 Olympian died in Sydney on Sunday aged 78.
Konrads dominated the pool as a teenager in the late 1950s before making his name at the 1960 Olympics in Rome where he won three medals, including gold in the 1500 metre freestyle at the age of 17.
He became the third Australian to win the event after Andrew Boy Charlton and Murray Rose.
He also won bronze in the 400 m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay.
Konrads set 26 individual freestyle world records between the 200m and 1500m events before he turned 15.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame and Swimming Australia led the outpouring of tributes to Konrads on Monday.
John Konrads, who set 26 individual freestyle swimming world records and won an Olympic gold medal in 1960, has died, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame announced Monday. He was 78.
Olympic gold medallist dominated sport during 1950s and 1960s
Konrads inducted into Sport Australiaâs Hall of Fame in 1985
John Konrads, with fellow Australian Murray Rose and George Breen of US, after winning the 1500m at the Rome Games in 1960. Photograph: Getty Images
John Konrads, with fellow Australian Murray Rose and George Breen of US, after winning the 1500m at the Rome Games in 1960. Photograph: Getty Images
AustralianAssociatedPress
Sun 25 Apr 2021 23.59 EDT
Last modified on Mon 26 Apr 2021 00.43 EDT
John Konrads, one of Australiaâs greatest swimmers during a golden age for the sport, has died.
Konrads dominated world swimming as a teenager in the late 1950s and early 1960s, winning the 1500m freestyle at the 1960 Rome Olympics among a haul of three medals at the Games.
Australian swimming great John Konrads dies at age 78
April 26, 2021 GMT
SYDNEY (AP) John Konrads, who set 26 individual freestyle swimming world records and won an Olympic gold medal in 1960, has died, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame announced Monday. He was 78.
Konrads was born in Latvia in 1942 and moved to Australia with his parents, his two sisters and a grandmother in 1949.
“As a swimming sensation in the 1950’s and 60’s, John Konrads dominated the world swimming scene, breaking every freestyle world record between 200 meters and 1,500 meters by the time he was 15,” Sport Australia Hall of Fame chairman John Bertrand said in a statement. “His career tally of 26 individual world records is an incredible record.”