 That year, in Hawaii, he broke the 220-yard world record long held by Johnny Weissmuller and finished third in the U.S. national championships in the 110-yard and 220-yard freestyle races, with Japanese swimmers taking the top two spots in both races.At the time, he held every Canadian freestyle swimming record from 100 metres to two miles.Earlier, Pirie won silver and bronze in freestyle events at the 1934 British Empire Games.