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.
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!