Bob Skelton

Robert Danforth Skelton (June 25, 1903 – June 25, 1977) was an American competition swimmer for Northwestern University, a 1924 Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.

Early life and swimming Skelton was born in Wilmette, Illinois on June 25, 1903, to Harold Danforth Skelton and Grace Stevens Skelton. He attended New Trier High School, which by 1913 notably had one of the first public high school indoor swimming pools. While at New Trier, Robert dominated local interscholastic swimming events for several years. During his junior year, he emerged as a top-notch breaststroke swimmer and was a member of the Dolphins, New Trier's male swim team. Skelton graduated New Trier in 1922. He gained much of his subsequent swimming prowess while training and competing with the outstanding swimming program of the Illinois Athletic Club under Hall of Fame Coach Bill Bachrach. Bachrach coached Olympic champion Johnny Weissmuller during the years Skelton was active with the club.

By 1922, excelling in distance competition, Skelton held world records in the 200 and 440 yard breaststroke events. In outdoor competition, he held records in 200 and 400-meter breaststroke event.

Northwestern University Beginning in 1923, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he swam for the Northwestern Wildcats Freshman swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition under Hall of Fame Coach Tom Robinson. Skelton was suspended for two weeks from Northwestern during his Freshman year for taking a date to a Dance Hall that was not on the school's approved list. After his suspension ended, he did not return to Northwestern for his Sophomore year. On March 21, 1924, at a meet in Milwaukee, Robert broke the 200-meter breaststroke world record, previously held by Germany's Erich Rademacher.

In August 1926, Skelton was diagnosed with typhoid fever and after sinking into critical condition was treated at Evanston Hospital, continuing to recuperate through the end of 1926. He continued to compete after recovering from typhoid fever, and qualified for the 1928 Olympic team.

In 1994, Northwestern University admitted Skelton into its Athletic Hall of Fame as a posthumous honor.