Perry McGillivray

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Coach
SexMale
Full namePerry•McGillivray
Used namePerry•McGillivray
Born5 August 1893 in Chicago, Illinois (USA)
Died27 July 1944 in Maywood, Illinois (USA)
Measurements170 cm
AffiliationsIllinois AC, Chicago (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Perry McGillivray was a top-class swimmer and water polo player for 20 years. Between 1908 and 1927 he won 16 AAU individual titles, was on 13 winning relay teams, and was seven times a member of the Illinois AC team that won the AAU water polo championship. He played water polo at the 1920 Olympics and was coach to the U.S. water polo team at the 1928 Games. McGillivray invented the lob shot, and with Harry Hebner, did much to revolutionize the game. Although Perry McGillivray was always more concerned with winning than with fast times, he set nine U.S. records and, when he won his Olympic gold medal in 1920, he shared in a new world relay record.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1912 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Perry McGillivray
100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 3 h3 r3/4
400 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) DNS
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 2 Silver
1920 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Perry McGillivray
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold
100 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) 4
Water Polo (Aquatics) USA Perry McGillivray
Water Polo, Men (Olympic) United States 4

Coaching results

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Water Polo (Aquatics) USA Perry McGillivray
Water Polo, Men (Olympic) United States =5

Special Notes