After spending the last 2 weeks in hospice care, George Breen died this week after discontinuing treatment for pancreatic cancer. Breen, 84, was diagnosed in July.
Breen was a member of the 1956 and 1960 U.S. Olympic teams, where he won 4 total medals. In 1956, he took silver as part of the American 800 free relay and bronze medals in both the 400 free and 1500 frees. 4 years later, in Rome, he repeated as the bronze medalist in the 1500 free.
In between, at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago, he won gold in the 400 free and silver in the 1500 free. In his career, he set 4 World Records. That includes a 9:15.7 in the 800 meter free that stood 14 months, twice breaking the World Record in the 1500 free in 1956, and as part of an American 800 free relay in 1960. Legendary Ohio State coach Mike Peppe called Breen’s 1500 free at the 1956 US AAU Indoor Championships “the single most brilliant effort in swimming since I’ve been coaching.”
Breen originally wanted to be a football player, but after missing the team tried swimming – not seriously beginning until college. In total, he won 22 US National Championships.
Breen also made his mark as a swim coach as the head coach of the Penn men’s swimming team from 1966 until 1982. He also coached with the Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club (when it was the Gloucester County Institute of Technology team) and the Jersey Wahoos.
Breen is a member of a number of halls of fame, including the one at Cortland State University (1969), the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1975). In 1997, he was named the winner of the USA Swimming Award, which the organization considers to be its highest honor. The award is given to the individual or organization with the most outstanding contribution to the sport of swimming.
Sadly this article omitted his long run as a coach for Team Delaware in Wilmington, DE. He touched many swimmers during this time of his career. I had the pleasure of coaching with him in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Beloved by MANY!!
You failed to mention that Doc Counsilman saw him in a P.E. class and recruited him to swim for Cortland State where Doc was coaching just before going to Indiana University where George followed him. I have some kinship to George in that Doc took George and then me 1961-65 at IU from absolute obscurity to top swimming All-America honors. This proved Doc could coach.
My 11 year old had him as a coach at Jersey Wahoos. Just found out about this on Sunday. She is really upset at his passing. A great coach. May he rest in peace.
RIP 🙁
Saw George with two fellow swimmers this past June. Appeared in good health and in control of his faculties. A great humorist and historian of swimming. He gave me some sage advice as always…..”never close your eyes in the shower or while putting your shirt on over your head “………humbled to be called one of his swimmers.
Having grown up in the Philly/central PA areas in the late 60’s-mid-70’s, George Breen was a legend who I heard about often.
Later in life, 1996 – 2002, I used to enjoy my friendly chats with him on deck at the GCIT pool, prior to the annual ECAC Championships. His friendly, warm & welcoming Smile and encyclopedic memory of our sport always impressed me.
God Speed George. Thoughts & Prayers are with your Loved Ones.
George has so many great stories. George told us about how he would win 1650s by more than a minute and at Nationals finalists would share practice stories and George would share doc had him swimming 6500 yards a workout, while elite athletes at the time were swimming 1500 to 2000 yards a workout. (Hard to imagine)
Doc had such a focus on technique, I️ wonder If George’s success was also tied to his great body roll.
A real class act that brought Penn its first and only Ivy Championship in 1971.
George was an amazing man