134. History Making Swimmers: Jim Montgomery & Brian Goodell

This week on Past Our Prime, we welcome two legends from one of the greatest Olympic swim teams ever assembled—Jim Montgomery and Brian Goodell. Montgomery made history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics by becoming the first swimmer to break the 50-second barrier in the 100-meter freestyle, while Goodell, just 17 years old and still a high school student, captured two individual gold medals and set world records in both the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle. Together, they helped lead the United States to a dominant performance in Montreal, and on the podcast they relive the races, the rivalries, the unforgettable atmosphere of the Games, and what it was like to be part of one of the most remarkable weeks in Olympic swimming history. The July 26, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated arrived during the first full week of the Montreal Olympics, and its cover perfectly captured the optimism and spectacle of the Games. Featuring the Olympic cauldron being lit during the Opening Ceremonies by Canadian teenagers Stéphane Préfontaine and Sandra Henderson beneath the headline, "The Show Goes On in Montreal," the cover symbolized the resilience of the Olympics after political boycotts by more than two dozen African nations and the withdrawal of Taiwan threatened to overshadow the competition. Inside, the magazine shifted the focus back to the athletes and the drama unfolding in Montreal, previewing what would become one of the most memorable Olympics in history, highlighted by Nadia Comăneci's perfect 10s, the dominance of the U.S. swim team, and a remarkable week of track and field that reaffirmed the enduring spirit of the Games. Jim Montgomery arrived in Montreal as the world's premier sprint freestyler and left as one of the Olympics' biggest stars. The Indiana University standout became the first swimmer in history to break the 50-second barrier in the 100-meter freestyle, winning gold in a world-record 49.99 seconds—a milestone often compared to Roger Bannister's four-minute mile. Montgomery also won gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and the 4x100-meter medley relay, with both teams setting world records, and added a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle. His three gold medals established him as the fastest swimmer in the world and helped lead the United States to one of the most dominant team performances in Olympic swimming history. Brian Goodell was just 17 years old and still a high school student when he emerged as one of the breakout stars of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The distance freestyle sensation captured gold medals in both the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle, setting world records in each event and establishing himself as the world's premier distance swimmer. After returning home from Montreal as a double Olympic champion and world-record holder, Goodell headed back to California to begin his senior year at Mission Viejo High School, capping one of the most extraordinary summers ever enjoyed by an American teenager. On this week's episode of Past Our Prime, Montgomery and Goodell take listeners back to that magical week in Montreal, sharing firsthand stories from one of the greatest Olympic swim teams ever assembled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices