Wally O'Connor

James Wallace O'Connor (August 25, 1903 – October 11, 1950) was an American competition swimmer and water polo player for Stanford University who played internationally for the United States at four Olympiads, which included the 1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics for swimming in the world record setting U.S. 4x200 freestyle relay, and took home a bronze medal for Water Polo in both the 1924 and 1932 Olympics. He is rated by many sports historians as the greatest American Water Polo player of all time for his Collegiate and Olympic achievements in the sport.

O'Connor was born in Madera, California on August 25, 1903. He attended Venice High School, and swam for their team from 1916-1919. and then was as Captain of the Los Angeles Athletic Club Water Polo Team in 1931, 33, 34, 35, and 36. While training with the Los Angeles Athletic Club, he was coached primarily by Clyde Swendsen in water polo and in swimming by Fred Cady.

4 Olympics; 1924-1936 1924 Paris Olympics In team sport at the 1924 Summer Olympics, O'Connor 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, Harrison Glancy and Johnny Weissmuller. Playing with the 1924 U.S. national water polo team O'Connor also won a bronze medal, playing one match.

At the 1932 Summer Olympics the U.S. Water Polo team won a bronze medal. O'Connor played all four matches.

Having tied with the team from Germany on points scored, the U.S. received the bronze medal due to goal difference. The win marked U.S. team's first Olympic medal in water polo at a U.S. location, and helped give greater visibility to the sport among American audiences.

1936 Berlin Olympics At the 1936 Summer Olympics, playing with the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the U.S. Water Polo team won one match and lost two matches in the preliminary group of the tournament. O'Connor played all three matches. He was honored as the national flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.

Honors In 1976, he was among the first 25 Charter Members inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame. He was also elected to the Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame, and the prestigious International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966.