Swimming has lost another great with the passing of Carl Robie last week at the age of 66, who died of cancer. It seems like a swimmer from my era passes away every year with Roy Saari, Don McKenzie, Charles Hickox and now Carl Robie.
Carl was the surprise winner of the 200 Fly at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City after being favored in 1964 and getting 2nd to Kevin Berry of Australia. His race is considered by many including myself to be one of the greatest upsets and comebacks in Olympic Swimming history. A lot of people don't remember that because at these same Olympics, Felipe Munoz won the 200 *** and he was from the host country and was a complete unknown and never beat any of the finalists in International competition.
That 1968 Olympics had more upsets and surprises on the Men's side than almost any other Olympics. Mike Wenden, Don McKenzie, Doug Russell, Munoz, and Robie were not given chances to win gold at all.
Carl Robie won his first National Championship in the 200 meter Fly and set the World Record in the process in August of 1961 when he was 16 years old and 3 months. He was only 6 months older than when Michael Phelps set his first World Record in this event in 2001 and has to be one of the youngest World Records setters ever in swimming. He went on to set 3 more World Records in the event. He swam in the 1960 Olympic Trials when he was just 15 and swam to a 5th place in the 200 Fly.
He went on to swim at University of Michigan and was favored to win the 200 Fly at the 1964 Olympics. He qualified 1st in both the 200 Fly and the 400 IM, but lost to Kevin Berry in the 200 Fly and got the silver. He placed 4th in the 400 IM and was out of the medals.
Carl Robie was probably the greatest 200 Flyer until Mark Spitz began to dominate the event in 1971. He won the 1963 Pan Am Games gold medal and was basically undefeated in the event for 6 years (1961 to 1967) except when he was defeated at the 1964 Olympics. He won every Long Course Nationals in this event that he competed in until 1967 when he lost to the new World Record holder Mark Spitz. Mark Spitz matched his time of 2:06.4 that he swam a month previous in winning the 1967 Pan Am Games gold medal. Carl lost by 1 second at 2:07.4 and that was his best time.
During the summer of 1967, he stayed in Michigan and trained at Brennan Pools in Detroit after he had graduated from Michigan. I used to see him at the pool when I swam workouts and he was a nice humble person. I remember he swam in the Water Wonderland Meet at Brennan Pools and he won every event he entered (400 Free, 1500 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, and 400 IM). That meet was the biggest meet in the midwest and was similar to the Eastern Championships in Philadelphia held at the Kelly Pool.
He enrolled in Law School in the fall of 1967 and basically had to train by himself at a local YMCA to try an qualify for the 1968 Olympic team. There was no professional swimming back then so his chances were slim to none not only to make the team but to win the gold medal.
At the 1968 Olympic Trials he placed 3rd to gain the last spot on the team behind Mark Spitz and John Ferris. The 200 Fly was late in the program in Mexico and Mark Spitz was having a disappointing Olympics and then John Ferris almost fainted after his 200 IM because he was not getting used to the altitude. These 2 factors increased his chances of winning but he still had a tough foreign field to contend with especially Martin Woodroffe from Britian who he beat out by .03 to win the gold medal.
Carl Robie won 10 major National Championships (6 Long Course, 2 Short Course, and 2 NCAA) along with 4 World Records. He held the American Record from August 1961 until July 1967 and lost his first Long Course 200 Fly to Mark Spitz in August 1967. He will go down as one of the greats in the 200 Fly ever.
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