|
a.
|
Note: Was almost as famous for his enormous weight - - at times reputed to be 450 lbs. - - as for his prowess in coaching swimmer Johnny Weismuller, the Tarzan of screen fame. Willie spent the whole of his adult life pool side at the Illinois Athletic Club in Chicago. More and more he isolated himself from his family, associating exclusively with swimmers. Unmarried. Director of YMCA 1910.
Bachrach was head coach of the American Olympic swim teams in 1924 and 1928. His men and women swimmers won 13 gold medals in 1924 and 10 gold medals in 1928. One of the medalists Bachrach personally developed was Johnny Weissmuller, who later gained Hollywood fame as Tarzan.
Career Highlights: Starting as a swim instructor at the Chicago Central YMCA, Bachrach moved to the Illinois Athletic Club and coached swimming and water polo from 1912-1954. While at both the YMCA and the IAC, he took an avid interest in promoting high school swimming meets and developing high school talent. When he moved to the IAC, his reputation grew as he coached some of the top American swimmers. In 1920, he 'found' a young swimmer named Johnny Weissmuller and developed him into a world champion -- he won four gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. His swimmers at the IAC won a total of 120 National AAU Championships. In 1914 alone, his swimmers and divers won every Men's National AAU Championship event! His water polo teams won the national championship for four consecutive years, 1914-1917. Bachrach weighed well over 300-pounds, and had an ever-present cigar and beer belly that made him look like a German butcher. Although a competitive swimmer in the 1890s, he was never seen in a pool while coaching at the IAC -- it was humorously rumored that he hated water. Called the 'beloved tyrant,' he knew how to get the most out of his swimmers, both physically and mentally. Following the 1928 Olympics, Bachrach took Weissmuller to Japan to compete. Bachrach learned that the Japanese were planning to increase their chances by using very cold water. He had Weissmuller sit in a tub filled with ice water until he was accustomed to the temperature -- Weissmuller won every event at the competition. In 1966, Bachrach was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
|
