The controversy surrounding John Devitt’s victory in the 100-meter freestyle event at the 1960 Olympics partly marred his otherwise stellar swimming career. American Jeff Farrell was the pre-Games favorite to win the 100 m freestyle gold at Roma, but after undergoing an emergency appendectomy just six days before the US Olympic Trials, he was only able to compete in the relay.
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Devitt, the defending Olympic champion from Australia, as well as Brazilian Manuel dos Santos and Australian Jon Henricks, were the new favorites to win the gold. Lance Larson, an American who specializes in the butterfly, posted the quickest timings in the heats and semifinals, but he was viewed as a distant candidate.
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John Devitt obituary
Since John Devitt’s passing was recently verified, the internet has been widely searched for his obituary. Devitt passed away on August 17, 2023, according to a statement from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
People who knew Devitt were devastated when it was discovered that he had passed away. As a result, tributes and condolence notes began to pour in online.
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