Ralph Flanagan (swimmer)

Ralph Drew Flanagan was an American competitive swimmer. He swam for the University of Texas.

Flanagan competed for the United States at two Summer Olympics in the 1930s.

In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Flanagan won a silver medal. His swimming showed great skill and made him a well-known Olympic athlete.

Olympics

Ralph Flanagan began swimming when he was very young. At 13, he competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

Four years later, at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, he won a silver medal with the U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay. He also placed fourth in the men's 400-meter freestyle and fifth in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle.

Flanagan swam for the University of Texas under Head Coach Tex Robertson. He helped his team win the Southwestern Conference team Championship in his final year. After his swimming career, Flanagan worked with the Red Cross and later became the director of safety programs for Los Angeles. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1978 as an "Honor Swimmer."