Murray Rose (2003) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Murray Rose

Induction:
2003
Class:
1962

One of the world’s all-time swimming greats, Australian Murray Rose won 5 NCAA titles and 6 Olympic medals. Before coming to USC, he won gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle, 1500 free and 800 free relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, becoming the youngest (at 17) Olympian in any sport to win 3 golds. Then at the 1960 Rome Olympics, he added a gold (400 free), silver (1500 free) and bronze (800 free relay). He set numerous world records, including being the first to break the 18-minute barrier in the 1500-meter freestyle. At USC, he captured 3 NCAA freestyle championships in 1961 (220, 440 and 1500 yards) and 2 more in 1962 (440, 1500). He captained the 1962 Trojans. In 2016, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century team. He was a junior Australian record holder while growing up in Sydney. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Swimming Australia Hall of Fame. After his swimming career, he became an actor, businessman, sports marketer and television announcer. He died on April 15, 2012, at age 73.