Bob Hughes (2012) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Bob Hughes

Induction:
2012
Class:
1956

Robert “Bob” Hughes, one of USC’s finest aquatic competitors, has the rare distinction of competing in the same Olympics in two different sports. In the 1956 Melbourne Games, he was on the U.S. water polo team that placed fifth and he also swam the 200-meter breaststroke to become the first American athlete since Johnny Weissmuller in 1924 to compete in two different sports in the same Olympics. He also helped the U.S. water poloists to a fourth place showing at the 1952 Helsinki Games. He participated in both sports at USC, lettering in water polo in 1954 and 1955 and in swimming as an All-American in 1955 and 1956 after transferring from El Camino Junior College. Known for his size and strength, he helped popularize the 2-meter position in water polo. Playing the sport until 1963 (he was a three-time AAU All-American), he was a member of U.S. Pan American teams that won bronze in 1951 and silver in 1955 and he played on the 1953 AAU Senior National Championship outdoor team. In swimming, he once held the world record in the 100-meter breaststroke. He was an assistant water polo coach at USC from 1970 to 1974. He was a charter member of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame (1976), and also is in the El Camino Athletic, USA Swimming, and Community College Water Polo Halls of Fame. He died on Oct. 11, 2012, at age 81.