Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Montgomery owns a piece of history that can never be taken from him: the first man ever under 50 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, clocking 49.99 in Montreal in 1976. I find that kind of barrier-breaking far more compelling than any single medal count, though three golds and a bronze are no small thing. What I respect most is the second act. A lot of record-holders fade once the records fall, but Montgomery turned to coaching and kept giving back to the sport. That arc, from pioneer to teacher, is the mark of someone who genuinely loved the water rather than just the spotlight.
Overview
James Paul Montgomery (born January 24, 1955) is an American former competition swimmer, four-time Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder. Montgomery was the first man to break the 50-second barrier (49.99) in the 100-meter freestyle, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, where he won three gold medals and one bronze.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jim Montgomery
- Name (Japanese)
- ジム・モンゴメリー
- Reading
- じむ・もんごめりー
- Born
- January 24, 1955 (age 71)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Goat
- Origin
- Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 191 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- swimmer / coach
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Madison East High School
- University
- Indiana University Bloomington
Awards & achievements
- International Swimming Hall of Fame
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Swimmer — see all → · Coach — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.