William Yorzyk

Who is William Yorzyk?

William Albert Yorzyk, Jr. is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.

Yorzyk represented the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. He was the first swimmer to win the gold medal in the new men's 200-meter butterfly event, finishing with a time of 2:19.3 in the final.

Yorzyk continued to swim competitively while he attended medical school at the University of Toronto. He won the U.S. AAU indoor championship in the 220-yard butterfly in 1958. He was awarded the university's Bickle Prize as its outstanding student-athlete in 1958 and 1959.

Yorzyk was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1971.