22 Facts About Boy Charlton

Andrew Murray "Boy" Charlton was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1920s and 1930s who won a gold medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Boy Charlton set five world records and won a further three silver and one bronze medal in his Olympic career.

Boy Charlton was a member of North Steyne Surf Life Saving club in his teens, before transferring to Manly Life Saving Club in the mid 1920s.

Charlton defeated Harris at the New South Wales Championships, winning the 440 yd in 5 min 22.4 s He then set a world record of 11m 5.4s in the 880yd event, as well as winning the one mile race in 23 min 43.2 s Charlton used a trudgen stroke which embodied characteristics of the modern crawl stroke, which was at the time in its infancy.

The Manly Baths was filled to capacity for the 440 yd race, with Boy Charlton winning the race by two yards in a time of 5m 20.4s, which led to Beaurepaire predicting that fitness permitting, Boy Charlton would break world records in 1924.

Borg held the lead for the first half of the race until Boy Charlton drew level, taking the lead at the 320yd mark.

Charlton eventually won by 20yds to equal Borg's world record of 5 min 11.8 s Charlton was given a lap of honour as Borg rowed him around the pool in a small boat.

Boy Charlton was selected for the Australian team for the 1924 Summer Olympics and travelled to Paris by sea with his coach, Tom Adriann, who was appointed the team coach.

Boy Charlton won both his heat and his semi-final, qualifying for the final, where he lined up against Borg and Beaurepaire.

Boy Charlton forged ahead to lead by 5 metres at the 600 m, before proceeding to defeat Borg by 40 m, while lapping the remainder of the field to win gold in a new world record time of 20m 6.6s.

Boy Charlton progressed to the final, finishing second to Weissmuller in both his heat and semi-final.

Boy Charlton was eight metres behind at the 150 m mark, before making his move.

Boy Charlton resumed studies at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, but did not graduate and subsequently became a station-hand at Kurrumbede station in Gunnedah, in western New South Wales.

Boy Charlton again claimed the silver medal, finishing behind Argentina's Alberto Zorrilla.

In total, Boy Charlton won five Olympic medals, which was a record until 1960.

Boy Charlton contracted influenza a fortnight before the Games after arriving in the United States.

Boy Charlton raised hopes that he had recovered when he won his heat, but then only won third place in the semi-final, although he still progressed to the final of the 400 m freestyle.

Boy Charlton finished in a distant sixth, some ten seconds behind the winner.

Boy Charlton retired from swimming upon his arrival in Australia, and in 1934 he opened a pharmacy business in Canberra.

Boy Charlton married on 20 March 1937 and settled on a 12,000-acre property near Goulburn, where he had a son and daughter.

Boy Charlton was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honour Swimmer" in 1972.

Boy Charlton died in Sydney of a heart attack at the age of 68.