University of Minnesota Athletics
John Bergman - M Club Hall of Fame
John Bergman
Men’s Swimming & Diving, 1960-64
HOF Class of 2007
John Bergman helped the Golden Gophers attain conference and national prestige with outstanding performances throughout his 1960-64 career. He set freshman team records in the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medley, later 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.
At the 1961 AAU Outdoor Nationals, Bergman swam on an eighth-place 400-meter medley relay and a fourth-place 800-meter freestyle relay. He placed in Big Ten and NCAA Championship meets his sophomore, junior and senior years, and was a two-time All-American.
A sophomore when Minnesota finished third at the NCAAs, Bergman was on the 400-yard freestyle relay that placed first in a NCAA-record 3:18.1.
Bergman was key to the 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 time an American and NCAA record.
Attending medical school, Bergman was an assistant swim coach with Bob Mowerson. He later financially supported Minnesota swimming and diving consistently for 30 years. He was inducted into the Minnesota Swim Coaches Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame in 1987.