FORT LAUDERDALE – Everyone who knew Jack Nelson would describe him as energetic, boisterous and fun-loving. As a coach, he got the most out of his athletes, many of whom would win Olympic gold medals.
Nelson, who passed away Tuesday morning due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease, was inducted into the American Swim Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2009, and he got those in attendance excited as he relived “the greatest moment in coaching.” For him, that would be motivating four American women to win gold in the 400 free relay at the 1976 Olympics.
The relay was the final women’s event in Montreal, and the Americans had not won a single gold medal thanks in large part to a drubbing by the East German women who were later discovered to have been part of a systematic doping regime. But Nelson, as USA head women’s Olympic coach, felt the Americans could beat the East Germans in the free relay, and he gave Kim Peyton, Wendy Boglioli, Jill Sterkel and Shirley Babashoff a pep talk that would start one of the most memorable races in swimming history.
Watch the video below to see Nelson describe the events leading up to the win, and stay for the full video of the 1976 relay!