Walter Spence
Encyclopedia
Walter Percy Spence (March 3, 1901 – October 16, 1958) was a swimmer from British Guiana
(present-day Guyana
) who competed for Canada
in the 1928 Summer Olympics
and 1932 Summer Olympics
. He immigrated to the United States
and held several national swimming titles there.
Spence was born in Christianburg, British Guiana, the oldest of eight children—four brothers and four sisters. His father was Scottish
and worked as a big game hunter
and guide
, while his mother was Indian. The Spences would swim in the Demerara River
; six family members bore scars from piranha
bites suffered while swimming there. Walter and two of his younger brothers, Wallace and Leonard, became champion swimmers. Two of the four Spence sisters also swam competitively, although not at the level of their brothers. The youngest Spence brother, Harold, showed great promise but was killed in action in World War II
before his swimming career could take off.
After becoming the top swimmer in British Guiana, Walter Spence moved to Trinidad
and began competing there. After losing a freestyle
race to a swimmer from Chicago
, his first-ever loss in that type of competition, Spence decided to pursue training in the United States
. He arrived in the U.S. in 1923, and would eventually gain U.S. citizenship. He began his U.S. career with the Brooklyn
YMCA
team, swimming the breaststroke
and three-stroke individual medley
. By 1925 he had broken ten world records and was the top point scorer at the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) national championships that year. He later competed with the Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
He competed for Canada in the 1928 Olympics
and won a bronze medal in the 4x200 m freestyle relay event. He was also sixth in the 100 m freestyle event
and sixth in the 200 m breaststroke event
. Four years later he was fourth in the 4x200 m freestyle relay event
. He was also fourth in his semifinal of the 100 m freestyle event
and fourth in his semifinal of the 200 m breaststroke event
and did not advance in both occasions. He later represented British Guiana at the 1938 British Empire Games
. He won the silver medal in the 220 yards breaststroke contest and finished fourth in the 110 yards freestyle competition.
In 1930, Spence enrolled as a freshman at Rutgers University
. He set the collegiate record in the 100 yard freestyle and earned the highest point score at the 1934 NCAA
championships. In 1934 he also broke the world record in the 300 yard three-stroke individual medley. He graduated with a bachelor's degree
in journalism
on June 9, 1934.
After leaving Rutgers, Spence swam with the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). His two younger brothers, Wallace and Leonard, joined him in the United States in 1926 and 1928, respectively. The brothers competed for the NYAC in the three-stroke medley relay, with Wallace swimming the backstroke
, Leonard the breaststroke, and Walter the front crawl
. Together, they won the 1933 AAU championship title in the event and later set the world record during an exhibition at Rutgers. Joining with Peter Fick
, they won the four-man 400 yard freestyle relay at the 1935 AAU championships.
After retiring from swimming, Spence worked as an insurance salesman for the Security Mutual Life Insurance Company in New York City
. He married Sheila O'Connor and had five children: David (born c. 1942), Harold (born c. 1947), Donald (born c. 1950), Sheila (born c. 1952), and Wendy (born c. 1953).
Spence was killed in an accident on October 16, 1958 in White Plains, New York
, while trying to board a train at the North White Plains station
. He was on his way from New York City to his home in Hawthorne
and had stepped off the train to call his wife during a stop at White Plains. When the train began to debark, he ran to catch it and attempted to re-board, but slipped and fell onto the tracks. He suffered severe injuries to his legs and died at White Plains Hospital an hour and a half later.
Nine years after his death, in 1967, Walter, Wallace, and Leonard Spence were inducted together into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
(present-day Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
) who competed for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
. He immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and held several national swimming titles there.
Spence was born in Christianburg, British Guiana, the oldest of eight children—four brothers and four sisters. His father was Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and worked as a big game hunter
Big game hunting
Big game hunting is the hunting of large game. The term is historically associated with the hunting of Africa's Big Five game , and with tigers and rhinos on the Indian subcontinent. In North America, animals such as bears and bison were hunted...
and guide
Guide
A guide is a person who leads anyone through unknown or unmapped country. This includes a guide of the real world , as well as a person who leads someone to more abstract places .-Guide - meanings related to travel and recreational pursuits:There are many variants of...
, while his mother was Indian. The Spences would swim in the Demerara River
Demerara River
The Demerara River is a river in eastern Guyana that rises in the central rainforests of the country and flows to the north for 346 kilometres until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Georgetown, Guyana's largest seaport and capital, is situated on the east bank of the river's mouth. The Demerara's...
; six family members bore scars from piranha
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
bites suffered while swimming there. Walter and two of his younger brothers, Wallace and Leonard, became champion swimmers. Two of the four Spence sisters also swam competitively, although not at the level of their brothers. The youngest Spence brother, Harold, showed great promise but was killed in action in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
before his swimming career could take off.
After becoming the top swimmer in British Guiana, Walter Spence moved to Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
and began competing there. After losing a freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
race to a swimmer from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, his first-ever loss in that type of competition, Spence decided to pursue training in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He arrived in the U.S. in 1923, and would eventually gain U.S. citizenship. He began his U.S. career with the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
team, swimming the breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
and three-stroke individual medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
. By 1925 he had broken ten world records and was the top point scorer at the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU) national championships that year. He later competed with the Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
He competed for Canada in the 1928 Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and won a bronze medal in the 4x200 m freestyle relay event. He was also sixth in the 100 m freestyle event
Swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle
The men's 100 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which had not been featured only at the 1900 Games...
and sixth in the 200 m breaststroke event
Swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre breaststroke
The men's 200 metre breaststroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fifth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
. Four years later he was fourth in the 4x200 m freestyle relay event
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
The men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
. He was also fourth in his semifinal of the 100 m freestyle event
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle
The men's 100 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event, which had only not featured at the 1900 Games...
and fourth in his semifinal of the 200 m breaststroke event
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre breaststroke
The men's 200 metre breaststroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
and did not advance in both occasions. He later represented British Guiana at the 1938 British Empire Games
1938 British Empire Games
The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...
. He won the silver medal in the 220 yards breaststroke contest and finished fourth in the 110 yards freestyle competition.
In 1930, Spence enrolled as a freshman at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. He set the collegiate record in the 100 yard freestyle and earned the highest point score at the 1934 NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championships. In 1934 he also broke the world record in the 300 yard three-stroke individual medley. He graduated with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
on June 9, 1934.
After leaving Rutgers, Spence swam with the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). His two younger brothers, Wallace and Leonard, joined him in the United States in 1926 and 1928, respectively. The brothers competed for the NYAC in the three-stroke medley relay, with Wallace swimming the backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
, Leonard the breaststroke, and Walter the front crawl
Front crawl
The front crawl, forward crawl, or freestyle is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly universally used during a freestyle swimming competition, hence the synonymously used term "freestyle". It is one of two...
. Together, they won the 1933 AAU championship title in the event and later set the world record during an exhibition at Rutgers. Joining with Peter Fick
Peter Fick
Peter Joseph Fick was an American freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.In 1936 he finished sixth in the 100 metre freestyle event.-External links:*...
, they won the four-man 400 yard freestyle relay at the 1935 AAU championships.
After retiring from swimming, Spence worked as an insurance salesman for the Security Mutual Life Insurance Company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He married Sheila O'Connor and had five children: David (born c. 1942), Harold (born c. 1947), Donald (born c. 1950), Sheila (born c. 1952), and Wendy (born c. 1953).
Spence was killed in an accident on October 16, 1958 in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, while trying to board a train at the North White Plains station
North White Plains (Metro-North station)
The North White Plains Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of northern White Plains, New York via the Harlem Line. It is the north terminal for most trains that run local to the south and, until 1984, was the northern limit of electrification. Adjacent to the station is a yard/support...
. He was on his way from New York City to his home in Hawthorne
Hawthorne, New York
Hawthorne is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place located in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The population was 4,586 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and had stepped off the train to call his wife during a stop at White Plains. When the train began to debark, he ran to catch it and attempted to re-board, but slipped and fell onto the tracks. He suffered severe injuries to his legs and died at White Plains Hospital an hour and a half later.
Nine years after his death, in 1967, Walter, Wallace, and Leonard Spence were inducted together into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...