_1960.jpg) Harrison in 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Prifold Harrison | |||||||||||||||||
| National team | United States | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1939-04-09)April 9, 1939 Berkeley, California, U.S.[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Died | 3 October 2011(2011-10-03) (aged 72) | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 179 lb (81 kg) | |||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Susan Jean Murray | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Freestyle | |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Santa Clara Swim Club | |||||||||||||||||
| College team | Stanford University | |||||||||||||||||
| Coach | George Haines (Santa Clara) James Gaughran (Stanford) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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George Prifold Harrison (April 9, 1939 – October 3, 2011) was an American competitionswimmer, who competed for Stanford University, a 1960 Rome Olympic champion in the 4x200 freestyle relay, and a former world record-holder in three events. After ending his swimming career, he would work for Lee & Associates inPleasanton, California, as an investment and industrial broker.[2]
Harrison was born in Berkeley, California on April 9, 1939 to Robert Darlington and Caroline Harrison and attended Lafayette'sAcalanes High School. Prior to college, he competed and trained with the exceptional program offered by theSanta Clara Swim Club under Hall of Fame CoachGeorge Haines. In 1965, he graduated fromStanford University, where he swam under Hall of Fame CoachJames Gaughran and was a member ofBeta Theta Pi fraternity.[3][4]
Harrison won the 200-meter freestyle event at the 1960 Olympic trials to qualify for the U.S. team.[5]
He competed at the1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where he received a gold medal as the lead-off swimmer of the winning U.S. team in the4×200-meter freestyle relay. Harrison, together with his American relay teammatesDick Blick,Mike Troy andJeff Farrell, set a new world record of 8:10.2 in the event final.[6] At the Olympics, Harrison was managed by head U.S. CoachGus Stager.[7]
Harrison married Susan Jean Murray at her parents' home on the afternoon of July 1, 1961 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. After a honeymoon in Carmel, the couple planned to reside in Carmel. Both were former graduates of Acalanes High School, where they met.[8] He would remain married to Susan throughout his life, and the couple would have two daughters, a son, and two grand-daughters.[3]
From 1958-1960, Harrison took first place in the AAU individual medley for successive years, setting an American record in short course each time.[5] Individually, Harrison won a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the1959 Pan American Games. He also held the world record in200-meter individual medley (long course) from August 24, 1956, to July 19, 1958, and the world record in the400-meter individual medley (long course) from June 24 to July 22, 1960.
He spent most of his career with Lee & Associates atPleasanton, California, working in investment and industrial brokerage.[1] At the time of his death, on October 3, 2011, from complications during surgery, he lived inMoraga, California.[9][3]
Harrison was inducted into the Stanford University Hall of Fame.[3]
| Men's team |  | |
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| Women's team | ||
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