Murray Rose

Murray Rose

Rose in 2009.
Personal information
Full name	Iain Murray Rose
Nationality	Australia
Born	6 January 1939(1939-01-06) Nairn, Scotland
Died	15 April 2012(2012-04-15) (aged 73) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Stroke(s)	Freestyle
Medal record Men’s swimming Competitor for Australia Olympic Games Gold 1956 Melbourne 400 m freestyle Gold 1956 Melbourne 1500 m freestyle Gold 1956 Melbourne 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1960 Rome 400 m freestyle Silver 1960 Rome 1500 m freestyle Bronze 1960 Rome 4×200 m freestyle

Iain Murray Rose, AM (6 January 1939 – 15 April 2012) was an Australian swimmer and actor. He was a six-time Olympic medalist (four gold, one silver, one bronze), and at one time held the world records in the 400, 800, and 1500-meter freestyle (long course). He made his Olympic debut at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne as a 17-year-old and won three Olympic medals, all gold. Four years later, as a 21-year-old, he won three Olympic medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze) at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. During the 1960s he pursued an acting career, starring in two Hollywood films and making some guest appearances on television shows like The Patty Duke Show. He thereafter only made a few periodic appearances in television and film, including guest spots on Magnum, P.I. and Matlock.

Biography

Early life

Iain Murray Rose was born on 6 January 1939 in Nairn, Scotland. His family moved to Australia soon after World War II, when Rose was young. He started swimming as a young child. Rose was educated at Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney. After graduating from high school, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and took the leading part in many plays on his school campus.

Career

At the age of seventeen, Rose participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He won the 400 metre and 1500 metre freestyle races and was a member of the winning team in the 4×200 metre relay. Winning three gold medals in his home country immediately made him a national hero. He was the youngest Olympian to be awarded three gold medals in one Olympic Games. Afterwards, Rose moved to the United States to study at the University of Southern California. He continued competing while at USC, and graduated in 1962. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, Rose again won an Olympic gold medal, as well as a silver and a bronze, bringing his haul to six medals. He eventually set 15 world records, including the world record in the 800-meter freestyle in 1962, which was not broken until Semyon Belits-Geiman set a new record in 1966. Rose continued to compete as a masters swimmer.

Murray Rose being interviewed by a Seven News journalist during a live cross of the evening news bulletin to Circular Quay in Sydney prior to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

An avenue at the Sydney Olympic complex was named for him in 2000. He was one of the eight flag-bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Work in film and television

On 6 January 1959, he appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show To Tell the Truth. Rose also had minor acting roles in the 1964 surf movie Ride the Wild Surf and in the 1968 drama Ice Station Zebra.

Charity

Rose was the patron of the Australian charity The Rainbow Club, which teaches disabled children how to swim.

Honours

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2000, for services to swimming. In 2000, he also received the Australian Sports Medal.

In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal.

Personal life

Murray Rose was married to the former Jodi Wintz, a ballerina, choreographer and dance teacher and contest adjudicator. He was survived by her and their son Trevor. and daughter Somerset by a former marriage.

During his career, Rose followed a vegan lifestyle. This earned him the nickname "The Seaweed Streak". He appeared on the radio program You Bet Your Life hosted by Groucho Marx on 17 March 1958. In response to a question from Groucho, Rose attributed his three gold medals in 1956 to his veganism.

Death

Rose died of leukemia on 15 April 2012 at the age of 73 in Sydney, Australia.

See also

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists

References

Records
Preceded by Ford Konno John Konrads	Men's 400 m freestyle world record holder (long course) Oct. 27, 1956 – Jan. 15, 1958 Aug. 17, 1962 – July 31, 1964	Succeeded by John Konrads Don Schollander
Preceded by George Breen Roy Saari	Men's 1500 m freestyle world record holder (long course) Oct. 30, 1956 – Dec. 5, 1956 Aug. 2, 1964 – Sept. 2, 1964	Succeeded by George Breen Roy Saari
Preceded by John Konrads	Men's 800 m freestyle world record holder (long course) Aug. 26, 1962 – Aug. 3, 1966	Succeeded by Semyon Belits-Geiman