John Ferris (swimmer)
Ferris around 19, Olympic photo, 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | John Edward Ferris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 24, 1949 Sacramento, California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | September 13, 2020 (aged 71) Walnut Creek, California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Butterfly, individual medley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Arden Hills Swim Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Stanford University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | James Gaughran (Stanford) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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John Edward Ferris (July 24, 1949 – September 13, 2020) was an American competition swimmer, for Stanford University, a winner of two bronze medals in the 1968 Olympics in butterfly and medley events, and a one-time world record-holder.
Ferris was born on July 24, 1949 in Sacramento, California, to James and Ida Ferris and attended Rio Americano High School in greater Sacramento. He did much of his early training at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento under Hall of Fame Coach Sherm Chavoor who had coached many great American Olympians including Mark Spitz, Debbie Meyer, and Mark J. Burton, each of whom would also swim in the 1968 Olympics with Ferris. A standout at only around 15 while swimming for Arden Hills in June, 1964, Ferris swam a 55.2 for the 100-yard butterfly breaking an age group record in the Junior Olympics, while also placing first in the 100 freestyle with a 1:56.5.
At peak intensity, Ferris's training at Arden Hills could include three workouts a day, and average as much as 80 miles a week. His sisters Carolyn and Joan also swam for Arden Hills, and Carolyn would later set age group records with masters swimming and coach the Woodlands Masters Swim Team in Houston.