University of Minnesota Athletics
John Bergman
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
John Bergman |
A member of the Minnesota men’s swimming and diving team between 1960-64, John Bergman helped the Golden Gophers attain conference and national supremacy with outstanding performances throughout his career. Swimming under coaches Bill Heusner and Bob Mowerson, Bergman set the freshman team records in the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medley. Later, he broke varsity marks in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly, and was a member of a 400-yard freestyle that set a team standard.
While Bergman was swimming for the Maroon and Gold, Minnesota was a power in the both the Big Ten and the nation. In 1961, at the AAU Outdoor Nationals, he was on an eighth-place 400-meter medley relay and fourth-place 800-meter freestyle relay. He placed in the Big Ten and NCAA Championship meets his sophomore, junior and senior years, and was a two-time All-American. His college highlight came as a sophomore, when Minnesota finished third at the NCAAs. At that meet, Bergman was a member of the Golden Gophers’ 400-yard freestyle relay that placed first with an NCAA record of 3:18.1.
During his career, Bergman played an important role on a team that finished third, fourth and fifth in consecutive years at the NCAA Championships. In 1962, he became All-American in 100-yard butterfly (10th), 400-yard medley relay (7th) and 400-yard free relay (1st). The free relay set an American and NCAA record. While Bergman was swimming at Minnesota, he established new pool records, not only at Cooke Hall, but also at Northwestern, Gustavus Adolphu, Iowa, Southern Illinois and Michigan State.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Bergman served as the assistant swim coach with Bob Mowerson while in medical school. Bergman was also a financial supporter for Golden Gopher Swimming & Diving consistently for 30 years, including the W.W. Heusner Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Bergman was inducted into the Minnesota Swim Coaches Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame in 1987.
M Club Hall of Fame
