Robert Lowry Brawner (November 22, 1929 – August 30, 2022) was an American swimmer for Princeton University who held a world record in the 200-yard (short course) breaststroke and held four American records.New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1
Biography Brawner was born on November 22, 1929.California Birth Index A four-time All-American in swimming at Princeton University, he was the Eastern Intercollegiate League Champion for three years 1950-1952 in the 200 yd/220 yd breaststroke. Brawner was also the double NCAA champion in the 100 yd and 200 yd/220 yd breaststroke for 1950 and 1951.
In his first American record came in 1949 with the 200 yard breaststroke (20 yard) with a time of 2:16.7.New York Times 31 March 1949 Page 35 His world record came in 1950 at the Eastern Intercollegiate Championships in the 200 yd breaststroke (short course) beating the former record holder Joe Verdeur in 2:14.2.New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17
At the National AAU Indoor Championships in 1950, Brawner won the 220 yd breaststroke (short course) and set the American record in 2:29.3 beating the former record holder Joe Verdeur who was second in 2:29.4.New York Times 1 April 1950 Page 23 This race was dual timed for both the 200 meter and 220 yard distances (short course). During the race, Verdeur broke the world record for 200 meters with a time of 2:28.3. Although this was the fastest 220 yard breaststroke (short course) in history, it stood only as the American record since FINA only recognized the 200 yard and 200 meter distances for world record purposes.
Brawner set another American record in the summer of 1950 in the 220 yd breaststroke (long course) at the National AAU Outdoor Championships when Brawner won in a time of 2:41 flat beating Bowen Stassforth who was second in 2:41.3.New York Times 23 July 1950 Page S3 He was selected in 1950 as part of the American national swim team in several dual meets held in Japan.Aims Daily Tribune 25 July 1950 Page 16 This was the first time the American swim team had defeated Japan on Japanese soil.New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1 At the second dual meet held in Osaka, Brawner won the 100 yd breaststroke and 200 yd breaststroke.New York Times 6 August 1950 Page S1
At the 1951 National AAU Outdoor Championships in the 100 m breaststroke (long course), Brawner was second to John Davies, but set the American record in the 100 m breaststroke (long course) in the preliminaries with a time of 1:08.3New York Times 27 July 1951 Page 30 At the 1952 US Olympic Trials, Brawner was seventh in the 200 m Breaststroke with a time of 2:44.9.Los Angeles Times 7 July 1952 Page C2Page 124 1952 US Olympic Book-Report of the US Olympic Committee Brawner died on August 30, 2022, at the age of 92.
Record notes The world record for the 200 meter breaststroke prior the bifurcation of the butterfly breaststroke into separate strokes in 1953 could be accomplished in either short or long course pools. FINA recognized only one world record for the 200 meter breaststroke. Brawner held the following records in his career:
200 yd breaststroke American Record (20 yard course), March 18, 1950 – June 20, 1952Iowa City Press-Citizen 21 June 1952 Page 8 World record 200 yd breaststroke (short course), March 17, 1950 – March 29, 1952New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17 220 yd breaststroke American record progression (long course), July 22, 1950 – August 27, 1952New York Times 1 April 1950 Page 23 220 yd breaststroke American record (short course), March 31, 1950 – April 4, 1952Panama City News Herald 23 July 1950 Page 9
National competitions Amateur Athletic Union Outdoor Championships 220 yd breaststroke (1950)New York Times 1 April 1950 Page 23 100 m breaststroke (1951)New York Times 27 July 1951 Page 30 100 m breaststroke (1949)New York Times 20 August 1949 Page 15 200 m breaststroke (1951)New York Times 28 July 1951 Page 21 AAU Indoor Championships 220 yd breaststroke (1950)New York Times 23 July 1950 Page S3 220 yd breaststroke (1951)New York Times 7 April 1951 Page 24 100 yd breaststroke (1951)New York Times 8 April 1951 Page 159 200 m breaststroke (1949)New York Times 2 April 1949 Page 19 NCAA Championships 220 yd breaststroke (1951)New York Times 31 March 1951 Page 22 100 yd breaststroke (1951)New York Times 1 April 1951 Page 155 200 yd breaststroke (1950)New York Times 25 March 1950 Page 155 100 yd breaststroke (1950)New York Times 25 March 1950 Page 155 100 yd breaststroke (1952)New York Times 30 March 1952 Page S1 200 yd breaststroke (1952)Los Angeles Times 29 March 1952 Page B2 Eastern Intercollegiate League Championships 200 yd breaststroke (1952)New York Times 15 March 1952 Page S1 100 yd breaststroke (1952)New York Times 15 March 1952 Page S1 220 yd breaststroke (1951)New York Times 17 March 1951 Page 25 200 yd breaststroke (1950)New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17 100 yd breaststroke (1950)New York Times 18 March 1950 Page 17
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