Charles Daniels was a seven-time Olympic medalist and world-record holder in two freestyle
swimming events. He also pioneered the front crawl Swimming style, inventing the “American crawl.” Born in Dayton, Ohio, Daniels began his Swimming career at the New York Athletic Club in 1903. A year later, he became the first American to win an Olympic medal in Swimming at the Olympic Games St. Louis 1904. He would go on to win six more Olympic medals throughout his career, including three more gold medals. Daniels held every freestyle world record during his career, and he won 33 U.S. national championships. In 1965, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer. He passed away in 1973 at the age of 88 in Carmel Valley Village, California.