George Conn
1995
George Conn was one of the most dominant and versatile wheelchair athletes of his era, excelling in both swimming and basketball on the national and international stages. In 1962 and 1963, he held every American and World Record in Men’s Class IV Incomplete Swimming, setting the standard for excellence in the sport.
From 1961 to 1964, George was the starting guard on every U.S.A. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, leading those teams to an unprecedented twenty-seven consecutive victories over four years — remaining undefeated in international play. On a demonstration tour in Brazil, his team continued the streak, winning five straight games, ensuring that George never played on a losing U.S.A. team in international competition.
In swimming, George’s performances were record-shattering. His time of :51.1 in the Men’s Class II Incomplete Breaststroke remained unequaled, and his :46.0 in the 50-Meter Incomplete Freestyle at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games stood as one of the sport’s defining achievements — a record that may still endure, if not reclassified under later systems.
Between 1961 and 1964, George earned eleven gold medals — ten national records — and one silver medal in national competition. On the international stage, including the 1964 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, he captured an extraordinary twelve gold, two silver, and one bronze medal — with all twelve golds setting new World Records in swimming.
The international competition environment of the early 1960s was especially challenging. U.S.A. teams were often unfunded and undermanned, yet their spirit was unmatched. At the 1961 Stoke Mandeville Games, George’s team — comprised of ten members of the Pan Am Jets and himself as the lone Chicagoan — competed under grueling conditions:
7:00 a.m. wake-up
8:00–9:00 a.m. workouts
Competition until 4:00 p.m.
Dinner at 5:00 p.m.
Celebration from 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Despite this demanding schedule, the team entered 44 individual events and 8 basketball games, finishing all competitions, leading the nation in gold medals, and remaining undefeated in basketball.
In 1962, during a tour in South Africa, the U.S.A. team was nearly expelled for initiating the first integrated basketball event in the country since 1948 — a courageous stand that made sports history. The team later traveled 25,000 miles over six weeks, giving demonstrations and attending receptions in Zimbabwe and Zambia, creating deep cross-cultural connections and spreading the values of inclusion through sport.
At the Tokyo Paralympics in 1964, the U.S.A. team remained short-handed but undeterred. They played with only three players in the first half, four in the third quarter, and a full five in the final quarter, balancing between basketball and individual events. Their resilience paid off — the team prevailed to win the gold medal, completing an undefeated run that would stand as one of the most remarkable achievements in the early history of wheelchair sports.
Through his athletic mastery, courage, and leadership, George Conn helped lay the foundation for modern adaptive sports. His records, integrity, and spirit of competition continue to inspire athletes around the world.