▁William ▁Mel vin ▁Smith ▁Jr . ▁( May ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 2 4 ▁– ▁February ▁ 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 3 ) ▁was ▁an ▁American ▁former ▁competition ▁sw immer , ▁two - time ▁Olympic ▁champion , ▁and ▁a ▁former ▁world ▁record - holder ▁in ▁four ▁events . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁successful ▁compet itive ▁sw imm ers ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁century . ▁ ▁Smith ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Hon ol ulu , ▁Hawai i , ▁of ▁mixed ▁Irish ▁and ▁Hawai ian ▁ancest ry . ▁ ▁He ▁attended ▁Ohio ▁State ▁University , ▁and ▁competed ▁for ▁the ▁Ohio ▁State ▁Buck ey es ▁sw imming ▁and ▁div ing ▁team ▁within ▁the ▁National ▁Colleg iate ▁Athlet ic ▁Association ▁( N CAA ). ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁college ▁sw immer , ▁he ▁was ▁und efe ated ▁in ▁three ▁years ▁of ▁dual ▁meet ▁competition , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁four - time ▁All - American . ▁ ▁He ▁set ▁seven ▁world ▁records ▁and ▁won ▁four teen ▁U . S . ▁national ▁champion ships : ▁seven ▁NCAA , ▁six ▁AA U ▁ind oor ▁and ▁one ▁AA U ▁out door . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁Summer ▁Olympics ▁in ▁London , ▁England , ▁Smith ▁won ▁gold ▁med als ▁in ▁the ▁ 4 0 0 - meter ▁fre est yle ▁and ▁ 4 × 2 0 0 - meter ▁fre est yle ▁relay . ▁ ▁At ▁one ▁time , ▁Smith ▁held ▁all