McLane, "Jimmy" (James P. Jr.)
Swimming
b. Sept. 13, 1930, Pittsburgh, PA
In 1944, McLane became the youngest AAU men's champion in history by winning the outdoor long-distance race at the age of thirteen, and he won the event again in 1945. He was also the AAU outdoor champion in the 800-meter freestyle from 1945 through 1948; the 1,500-meter freestyle from 1945 through 1947; and the 400-meter freestyle from 1946 through 1948.
McLane won a Olympic gold medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle in 1948, when he was a member of the gold medal 4 by 200-meter relay team. He also won a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle.
In 1949, McLane enrolled at Yale University, where he was overshadowed by teammate John Marshall of Australia. However, McLane won the AAU indoor 440-yard and 1,500-meter freestyle events and he was also the NCAA 220-yard and 1,500-meter champion that year. McLane's last year of competition was 1955, when he won gold medals at the Pan-American Games in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle races and in the 4 by 200-meter freestyle relay.