Al Vande Weghe

Albert Joseph Vande Weghe (sometimes appearing as Vandeweghe; July 28, 1916 – August 13, 2002) was an American competition swimmer for Princeton University, a world record holder in backstroke events, and a 1936 Berlin Olympic silver medalist in the Men's 100 meter backstroke. After graduating from Princeton in 1940, he worked thirty-five years as a Chemical Engineer for Dupont Corporation, then after retiring in 1975, returned to swimming at age 74 in 1980 as a United States Masters swimmer for Tulsa Masters, winning many races in age group competitions.

High school era swimming Albert attended Patterson Central High School, which has since been renamed. He represented his High School team as a diver in his Freshman year, then swam distance freestyle, before setting records in backstroke as a High School upperclassman. He swam representing Patterson Central High through around his Senior year in 1934 under Coach Clinton Cranmer. As a High School Sophomore in 1932, Vande Weghe swam a third place, but highly competitive time of 1:08.4 in the 100 yard AAU Senior Backstroke event at the Newark Athletic Club in December 1932.

Hun Preparatory In 1934–1935, Vande Weghe attended the Hun Preparatory School in Princeton, New Jersey, where he received a letter in Football in December 1934. By his Senior year, Vande Weghe had competed in Tokyo with an American team consisting of himself, Jack Medica Vande Weghe first broke the state record in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 58.3, and the world record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:04.8 in Trenton New Jersey, at the combined State High School and Preparatory meet at the Trenton High School Pool on March 11, 1934. It is believed Vande Weghe first used the flip turn in his historic 150-yard backstroke record of 1:39.9 in 1934.

1936 Berlin Olympic silver medal

As a 20-year-old at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, he won the silver medal in the men's 100-meter backstroke. Vande Weghe finished second behind fellow Hall of Fame American backstroker Adolph Kiefer and recorded a time of 1:07.7. Like Kiefer, Vande Weghe never achieved his full potential as a swimmer after his competition career was interrupted by military service during World War II. In late life interviews, Vande Weghe noted he believed Germany was trying to make a very positive impression in 1936 as the German government had a captive audience, and noted that the Olympic facilities were immaculate, and elaborate. He served as Vice-President of his Princeton Class of 1940, and President of the engineering class, as well as Secretary of the Quadrangle Club and was a member of the athletic council.

Swimming highlights, records In July 1940, Vande Weghe was the holder of all the Eastern Intercollegiate league and NCAA backstroke records. On February 18, 1939, he set a world short course record of 59.41 in the 100-yard backstroke. This was one of six world backstroke records he set between 1934 and 1939, mostly occurring while he was swimming for Princeton University. At Princeton, Vande Weghe won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 150-yard backstroke title in his third straight year, posting a time of 1:34.6 in his Senior year in March, 1940. Vande Weghe had a total of nine National records in backstroke at Princeton and three American relay records while teaming with Princeton's Hall of fame breastroker Dick Hough, and Princeton's freestyle swimmer Hank Van Oss. The Medley relay records were also World Records and were largely in the 300-yard medley relay, an event no longer held since the introduction of the butterfly stroke in the 1950s.

Official world records Vande Weghe's record in the 100 meter backstroke, set in Honolulu was 1:07.4, which lasted from 23 July 23, 1934 through 20 October 1935. Also set in Honolulu, his fastest 200-meter backstroke time was 2:27.8 which lasted from 30 August 1934 through 11 April 1935. Vande Weghe married Peggy Vivian King in Charleston on September 30, 1943. During his career, he lived on a cattle farm and raised fruit and nut trees with his son, two daughters, and wife Peg.

Continuing to work for Dupont, Vande Wegh became a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967. In 1968, during his induction into the Paterson Old Timers Athletic Association, he was working as a Plant Superintendent for Tulsa's DuPont Plastic Plant.

Though not a frequent swimmer during his work years, he remained active playing golf and tennis.

On August 13, 2002, Vande Weghe died of leukemia in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 86. A memorial service was held on August 16 at Stanleys Funeral Service Chapel in Tulsa.

Honors Vande Weghe was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1990. In 1937 and 1939 he received the honor of being named New Jersey Collegiate Athlete and in 1940 was named Outstanding scholar athlete for Princeton. In 1934, after returning from his meet in Japan, a bronze plaque, presented by Paterson Mayor Hincliffe, was dedicated to the swimming achievements of Vande Weghe at the Hinchcliffe Football Stadium in Paterson. In 1940, Vande Weghe was awarded the William W. Roper trophy at Princeton for outstanding achievement in academics, and athletics.