John Konrads papers, photographs and objects, 1951 - 2011

MLMSS 8125/Boxes 1-9, 14-15
MLMSS 8125/Boxes 10X-13X

fonds

1951-2011

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Drawings, Ephemera, Photographs, Badges, Medals

950159

1.7 metres of textual material, drawings, photographs, objects and ephemera (11 boxes and 4 outsize boxes)

John Konrads and his younger sister Ilsa were born in Riga, Latvia in 1942 and 1944 respectively. Their family migrated to Australia after World War II and eventually settled in Bankstown, Sydney. At Bankstown Swimming pool, they were coached by Don Talbot and they went on to set 37 world swimming records between them.

Just before his 14th birthday, John was selected to attend, though not compete, in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. Then in an eight day period in January 1958, John set six world records and another eight by March that year, and became the first ever swimmer to hold every freestyle world record from 200 metres to 1650 yards. At the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, he won gold medals in the 440 and 1660 yards men’s freestyle and at the Rome Olympics in 1960 won gold in the 1500 metres freestyle, and 2 bronze medals for the 400 metres freestyle and 200 metres relay. He also participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He broke a total of 25 world records in a career spanning 1956 to 1964. After his retirement from competitive swimming, he became a professional swimming coach in Paris, and later pursued a career in marketing.

Ilsa Konrads set 12 freestyle records, the first being in 1958 when she broke the 800 metres and 880 yards freestyle world records at 13 years of age. At the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, she won gold in the 440 yards freestyle; at the Rome Olympics in 1960 she won silver in the 4 x 100 metres freestyle relay and in 1962 at the Commonwealth Games in Perth, she won silver in the 440 yards. She retired from swimming in 1962 and took up a career in journalism.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection
Library correspondence file
http://corporate.olympics.com.au (accessed 23 November, 2011)
http://www.sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/member-profile (accessed 23 November, 2011)

SERIES 01
John Konrads swimming diaries, log books and lap times, 1956-1960, 2011

SERIES 02
John Konrads scrapbooks, 1953-1964

SERIES 03
Konrads family correspondence, 1956-ca. 1984, 2007

SERIES 04
John Konrads miscellaneous papers, 1951-1967

SERIES 05
John Konrads papers relating to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, 1956-1957

SERIES 06
John Konrads papers relating to the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games

SERIES 07
John Konrads newscuttings and magazine articles ca. 1954-1984

SERIES 08
John Konrads photographs, 1956-1958

SERIES 09
John Konrads objects, ca. 1956-1996

This collection is arranged into nine series.

English, Japanese, Latvian, Russian, French, Italian

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and courtesy copyright holder