Harry Glancy

Harrison Smith Glancy (September 17, 1904 – September 22, 2002) was an American competition swimmer for Mercersburg Academy who won a gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay representing the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Glancy also represented the U.S. team in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Mercersburg Academy Though born in Bens Run, Virginia on September 17, 1904, Glancy grew up in Kentucky. When he was 14, his family moved to Pittsburgh in 1919, and he got a job in a local health club where he began swimming. He attended and swam for Pittsburgh's prestigious Mercersburg Academy during his peak swimming years. On January 26, 1924, Glancy helped lead Mercersburg to the National Interscholastic Swimming Championship in Philadelphia. The team had won the title in previous years. In August 1925, he placed second to Johnny Weissmuller at Seattle's Senior Men's outdoor swimming championships in the 440-yard freestyle.

1924 Paris Olympic gold

In 1924, Glancy won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay, together with teammates Ralph Breyer, Wally O'Connor and Johnny Weissmuller. Glancy and his American teammates set new world records in both the semifinals (9:59.4) and final (9:53.4). He was engaged to Cincinnati area swimmer Irma May Lucas of Covington, Kentucky, around August, 1926. Irma Mae Glancy became the first Western female athlete to compete in Japan, when she swam at the 1927 Pan Pacific Games.

Glancy also qualified and participated in the 1928 Olympics. The American team again took the gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay, but without Harry's participation.

He died at his home in New Orleans of heart failure on September 22, 2002, at the age of 98. Survived by two sons and five grandchildren, he was predeceased by his wife Irma in 1997. After a memorial service, he was buried at St. Thomas More Church Garden in Sarasota, Florida.

Honors He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Pioneer Swimmer" in 1990.