[25][26] and one world record in the 100 meter (long course) breaststroke[6][27] Born in Los Angeles on August 7, 1926,[28] Stassforth was an eight-time[29] All-American in swimming at the University of Iowa.

As a result, he was subsequently assigned to teach swimming and water survival skills to enlisted sailors on North Island in San Diego.

[35][36] The next year in 1946, he placed sixth in both the AAU National Indoor and Outdoor Championship 220y/200M breaststroke behind Joe Verdeur, Charles Keating and his future coach, James Counsilman.

[6] At the dual meet in Tokyo, Bowen set the world record in the 100 m breaststroke(long course) in 1:09.4 barely edging out his teammate Robert Brawner.

[12] In 1951, he won a bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:47.6[43] and a gold in the medley relay at the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires.

At the 1951 National AAU Outdoor Championships in the 200 m breaststroke, Bowen was second to John Davies but ahead of Robert Brawner, third and Jerry Holan, fourth.

As a result of these training adjustments, he qualified first overall at the 1952 US Olympic Trials beating both Brawner and Holan and breaking Joe Verdeur's American citizen record[46] with a time of 2:36.0 in the 200 m breaststroke.

[52] Charles Roeser, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic men's swimming committee in a letter to his coach David Armbruster, called Bowen “one of the most cooperative athletes I have ever known in thirty years of teaching and coaching.” He also called him “America's greatest breaststroke champion, but more than that, a real American and gentleman whose conduct is a worthy example for others to follow.”[53][54] He died at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on November 22, 2019, at the age of 93.

This is evidenced by the dual distance timed race in the 1950 National AAU Indoor Championships in the 220 yard breaststroke (short course) between Joe Verdeur and Robert Brawner.

[66] On July 10, 1952, Stassforth's coach, David Armbruster, had predicted a time of 2:33 for him in the 200 meter breaststroke (long course): "In my opinion, Bowen is capable of about 2:33 and he certainly should be a strong contender for the Olympic title.