Felix Geoffrey FARRELL

Farrell started out at the University of Oklahoma but transferred to Yale, where his swim career was haunted by injury and illness. He swam in the 1960 U.S. Trials only six days after an appendectomy, graciously having declined an offer made by U.S. officials to allow him to try to qualify in a swim-off a few weeks later. Though he would have been the favorite in the 100 metre freestyle, he finished fourth at the Trials, and made only the 4x200 freestyle relay team by finishing fourth in the 200 free at the Trials. But by the time of the Olympics, he had recovered sufficiently to anchor the U.S. teams to world records in both events. Farrell won five AAU titles and won two gold medals at the 1959 Pan American Games in 100 m freestyle and in 4×100 m medley (with Frank McKinney, Mike Troy, and the non-Olympian Kenneth Nakasone).