John Davies (swimmer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Davies
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office 9 June 1986 – 18 July 1998
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Cynthia Holcomb Hall
Succeeded by	John F. Walter
Personal details
Born	John Griffith Davies (1929-05-17)17 May 1929 Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia
Died	24 March 2020(2020-03-24) (aged 90) Pasadena, California, United States
Spouse	Margery M. Follinger
Education	University of Michigan (B.A.) UCLA School of Law (LL.B.)
Personal information Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Weight 193 lb (88 kg) Sport Sport Swimming Strokes Breaststroke College team University of Michigan Medal record Representing Australia Olympic Games Gold 1952 Helsinki 200 m breaststroke Amateur Athletic Union Gold 1952 Indoor Championships 220 yd breaststroke Gold 1951 Outdoor Championships 200 m breaststroke Gold 1951 Outdoor Championships 100 m breaststroke Gold 1951 Outdoor Championships 300 m Medley Relay Gold 1951 Indoor Championships 220 yd breaststroke Silver 1951 Indoor Championships 100 yd breaststroke Silver 1948 Outdoor Championships 200 m breaststroke NCAA Silver 1948 Championships 200 yd breaststroke Gold 1952 Championships 200 yd breaststroke Gold 1952 Championships 100 yd breaststroke Big Ten Gold 1952 Championships 200 yd breaststroke Gold 1951 Championships 200 yd breaststroke Gold 1952 Championships 100 yd breaststroke

John Griffith Davies (born May 17, 1929 – died March 24, 2020) was an amazing Australian-American who achieved great things in two very different fields: swimming and law. He was a top breaststroke swimmer in the 1940s and 1950s. He even won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He also set and tied world records in breaststroke swimming.

After he stopped competing, John Davies became a lawyer in California. He later became an American citizen. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as a United States district judge. This meant he would make important decisions in legal cases. One of his most well-known cases involved police officers from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Becoming an Olympic Swimmer

John Davies started his swimming journey by winning breaststroke events at the 1946 New South Wales Championships. He then began training with coach Forbes Carlile in 1947. That year, he won the 220-yard breaststroke at the Australian Championships. He also helped his team win a relay race.

Competing in the 1948 Olympics

Davies won these Australian championships again in 1948. This earned him a spot on the Australian team for the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He was only 19 years old! Before the Games, he won two races in London. In the 200-meter breaststroke, he set a new Australian record in the semifinal. He then set another Australian record in the final, finishing in 4th place. Even though his time was faster than the bronze medalist's, the judges placed him fourth.

Studying and Training in the U.S.

After the 1948 Olympics, Davies moved to the United States. He enrolled at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. There, he trained with coach Matt Mann and became a two-time All-American swimmer. Back then, there were no scholarships for swimmers, so John worked hard. He washed dishes and worked at the International Student Centre to support himself while studying political science. Coach Mann also helped Davies change his swimming style to be more aggressive at the start of races.

In 1951, Davies won the 200-meter breaststroke at a major national championship. In 1952, he set a new world record in the 200-yard breaststroke. Because of his success, the Australian Olympic team chose him for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He trained with another Australian swimmer, John Marshall, at Yale University.

Winning Gold at the 1952 Olympics

When Davies arrived in Helsinki, many people thought he would win. He had set a world record earlier that year. However, a week before the Games, he had a poor practice swim. This made him change his training to rest more.

In the Olympic heats, Davies wasn't the fastest, but he broke the Olympic record. In the final race, he started slower, falling behind by more than two seconds at the halfway point. But he used his strong finish to catch up and win! He beat Bowen Stassforth of the United States by a tiny 0.3 seconds. Davies set a new Olympic record and tied the world record for the 200-meter breaststroke.

Becoming a Judge

After his amazing swimming career, John Davies decided to pursue a career in law. He graduated from the UCLA School of Law in 1959. The next year, in 1960, he became a citizen of the United States.

Appointed to the Federal Court

On April 22, 1986, President Ronald Reagan chose John Davies to become a judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The United States Senate approved his appointment, and he officially became a judge on June 9, 1986.

Important Cases as a Judge

As a judge, Davies handled many important cases. In 1991, he ruled that a rule about "obscenity" in art grants went against the Free Speech Clause of the Constitution. In 1996, he overturned a conviction in a big financial scandal case, saying the jury instructions were wrong. In 1998, he helped settle a large financial agreement related to a county's bankruptcy.

One of his most famous cases was in 1993. He oversaw the federal trial of four Los Angeles Police Department officers. This case was about their actions involving Rodney King. Two officers were found responsible. Judge Davies decided on their sentences. His decision caused a lot of discussion and criticism at the time. Some people felt the sentences were too light. However, the Supreme Court of the United States later supported his decision.

Later Life and Legacy

John Davies passed away on March 24, 2020, at the age of 90, after battling cancer.

Retired U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Bonner spoke highly of John Davies. He called him "one of the best federal judges ever to serve." He also noted that Davies was likely the only Olympic gold medalist to become a federal judge. Judge Bonner believed that Davies's handling of the Rodney King trial helped Los Angeles.

Honours and Awards

John Davies received many honors for his achievements:

• In 1984, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
• In 1992, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
• In 2000, he received an Australian Sports Medal.

See also

• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 200 metres breaststroke