Claude Thompson

Columbus High School, 1956 – 60


Thompson__ClaudeClaude Thompson swam for Columbus High School, winning four state individual championships in four different events.  He won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.9, and was the first person in history to swim under 23.0.  He also swam the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 50.6 in 1959-60, which was a state mark as well.  In 1958-59, Claude won the 100 backstroke, the first man in IHSAA history to break the 1:00 mark with a time of 59.9, as well as a NISCA national record breaking time.  That same year, he won the first ever state championship in the 400-yard freestyle. Claude went on to swim at Indiana University, where he earned All-American status in 1962, in the 440-yard freestyle and the 1500 meter freestyle. Claude pass away in 2012.