Felix Jeffrey Farrell (born February 18, 1937) is a Hall of Fame American former competition swimmer, and a 1960 two-time Olympic gold medalist, where he became a world record-holder in two relay events.
[3][4][5] In January 1952, while swimming for Wichita East High School, he swam a 58.7 for the 100-yard event, but would continue to lower his time threshold.
[6] At the end of February, 1953, Farrell set a new record for the 100-yard freestyle of 56.4, at a State Tournament though Wichita East lost the meet to frequent winner Coffeyville High School.
[8] Excelling in events longer than the 100 as he gained endurance in 1954, Jeff tied the National age group record for the 220-yard freestyle with a time of 2:11.8.
[13] In February 1958, while swimming for the Sooners under Hall of Fame coach Matthew Mann, he set a new pool record in the 100-yard sprint of 52.8 at a Big 8 meet.
[15][14][16] Jeff enrolled in the Navy ROTC Program at Yale by 1959 and was first commissioned as an Ensign, swimming with Hall of Fame Yale Coaches Bob Kiphuth and on occasion Phil Moriarty, though primarily in American Athletic Union competition, as his collegiate eligibility was completed at the University of Oklahoma.
The Medley team's time of 4:05.4, set both a new Olympic and World record, with Jeff completing his anchor swim in 54.9.
[30] Continuing to swim after the Olympics, within a year of his appendectomy, Farrell broke a combined 23 American and World records.
His comeback could be attributed to his Master's coach Judy Bonning, who helped him modernize his starts and turns, and make his workouts more efficient.
[1] Farrell is a multiple U.S. Masters Swimming world-record holder, and has held the fastest national times in his age group in dozens of events over the past decades.
He has set 27 FINA Master's World Records, primarily in freestyle, but a few in the individual medley and one in the breast stroke.