Steve Jackman, an NCAA Champion and former fastest-man ever in the 50 yard free, died on June 14. He was 83.
Jackman was once known as “The Fastest Man in the World” as the NCAA Record holder in the 50 yard freestyle. He was the anchor of the NCAA title winning 1963 400-yard medley relay, and was a back-to-back NCAA Champion in the 50 yard free in 1962 (21.1) and 1963 (21.2); and the 100 free in 1961 (48.5) and 1962 (47.5), which were also records at the time.
In an era before the World Championships when the 50 free wasn’t contested at major international meets, the NCAA Champion was often given the title of “Fastest Man in the World.”
Jackman also won a silver medal in the 100 free at the 1963 Pan American Games.
Jackman was inducted into the University of Minnesota Aquatics Hall of Fame in 1986 and the broader athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.
After completing his undergraduate career at Minnesota, he went on to attend the University of Minnesota medical school with a doctorate in radiology.
Had the privilege of having some fb dialog with Mr Jackman over the years. He was coached by Bill Huesner, a legend in u of Minn swimming, took Minnesota from 0 points in Big 10 meet (only scored top 6) to top 3 in ncaa championships in 3 years.during Jackman years. Bill was on a Doc C trajectory then decided to go full time academic, I was lucky to have Bill as an grad academic advisor at MSU, one of the smartest people I have ever known. Any way, Mr Jackman held Bill in high high regard.
From the Minnesota Iron ore region to the U of Minnesota Steve Jackman became NCCA champion.
His journey to the U of Minnesota came about because a teammate refused to go to the U of M unless
the coach would also recruit his teammate, Steve Jackman. The rest is swimming history.
A true talent! RIP.
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His times from the early 1960s were fast especially when you consider the following:
—low starting blocks
—“windup” start off the blocks
—no goggles
—shallower pools
—skimpier lane lines
—dives off the blocks were flat, smack on the water surface, not underwater
—no “underwaters” off of turns
—wave reducing gutter systems were rare
—swimwear consisted almost entirely of Speedo briefs
—the science of minimum body drag in the water hadn’t been developed
Well said!
Some body forgot you had to touch the wall with your hand on freestyle flip turns. Try it sometime, your body was folded up like a pretzel!