Bumpy Jones

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameBurwell Otis "Bumpy"•Jones
Used nameBumpy•Jones
Nick/petnamesBumpy
Born23 March 1933 in Detroit, Michigan (USA)
Died6 February 2021
AffiliationsMichigan Wolverines, Ann Arbor (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Bumpy Jones swam for the University of Michigan from 1952-54, winning NCAA titles in the 150 yard individual medley all three years. Jones best event was the individual medley which was not on the Olympic Program until 1964, but he set the first recognized world record in the 400 individual medley once the butterfly stroke was added. At the 1951 Pan American Games Jones won gold in the 4x200 metre freestyle relay and a bronze in the 100 metre backstroke.

After college Jones attended Michigan Medical School, and then did an internship in Ann Arbor, followed by residency training at the University of Virginia and then Duke University. In 1965 he settled in Sarasota, Florida where he practiced dermatology for many years. In 1971 he began Masters swimming and became one of the greatest ever in his age groups. He won 110 National Masters Championships and five FINA Masters World Championships. Jones set 39 FINA Masters world records and 145 American Masters records. During his Masters career Jones was world ranked #1 38 times, #2 18 times, and #3 10 times.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Bumpy Jones
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 1

Special Notes