Description
John Pitann Kinsella is an American former competition swimmer, an Olympic champion, and a former world record-holder in multiple events.
Kinsella was a standout at Illinois swimming powerhouse Hinsdale Central High School in the late 1960s. As a 16 year-old, he was the silver medalist in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, finishing second to U.S. teammate Mike Burton.
In 1970, while still a high school senior and swimming for the Hinsdale McDonald's Swim Club coached by Don Watson, he was awarded the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Award in recognition of the outstanding American amateur athlete of the year. In 1970 he also became the first person to swim 1,500 meters under 16 minutes. After graduating from high school, Kinsella, together with Mark Spitz, Gary Hall, Sr. and other notable swimmers, were part of Doc Counsilman's legendary Indiana Hoosiers swimming and diving team at Indiana University, which dominated men's college swimming in the early 1970s. Kinsella won NCAA national championships in the 500-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle events in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
Born
August 26th, 1952 in Oak Park (Age 72) as John Pitann Kinsella
Teams
Last Changes
2023/08/29
New Response (Return To Sender): I sent him a First Day Cover to sign. RTS..
2023/08/11
New Response (Success): Sent letter, SASE, 3 pics, received signed pics
2023/08/11
New Scanned Autograph (TTM/Probably Authentic)