Joseph Thomas Verdeur (March 7, 1926 – August 6, 1991) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.

His final world record came in the 1950 National AAU Indoor Championships in the 220 yard breaststroke (short course).

He may well have won more medals in the butterfly and individual medley if these had been included at the time as he was a multiple national champion and record-breaker in both events.

The next four-Eugene Rogers in 2:14.2, Edwin Gilbert in 2:15.4, Robert Gibe in 2:15.6, and William Dudley in 2:15.9, were used in the Olympic prelims.

[34] The next three swimmers-Joe Verdeur who came in 2:16.3, Alan Ford in 2;16.4 and George Hoogerhyde in 2:17.4 were not used in any capacity in the 4x200 freestyle relay.

Sportswriter Grantland Rice called Verdeur "the greatest swimmer of the first half century.

"[35] Verdeur received two votes in the 1950 Associated Press Poll of the Greatest Swimmer of the Past 50 years.