Harry Hebner

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Harry Hebner

| image = Harry Joseph Hebner (1891–1968) at the 1912 Summer Olympics.png

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Hebner at the 1912 Summer Olympics

| fullname = Harry Joseph Hebner

| nicknames =

| national_team = United States

| strokes = Backstroke, freestyle

| club = Illinois Athletic Club (IAC)

| coach = Bill Bachrach (IAC)

| collegeteam =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1891|6|15|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1968|10|12|1891|6|15|mf=y}}

| death_place = Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.

| height = {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}}

| weight =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}}}}

File:Olympic rings.svg

}}

Harry Joseph Hebner (June 15, 1891 – October 12, 1968) was an American competition swimmer and water polo player who competed at the 1908, 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/51394 |title=Harry Hebner |work=Olympedia |access-date=11 April 2021}}

Hebner swam for the Illinois Athletic Club under Hall of Fame Coach William Bachrach. Other outstanding swimmers coached by Bachrach included 1924 gold medalist Sybil Bauer, the exceptional Olympian and film star Johnny Weismuller, 1920 Olympic triple gold medalist Norman Ross, 1912 and 1920 Olympic medalist Perry McGillivray, and 1912 and 1920 Olympic participant Mike McDermott."Bachrach Coached Champion Swimmer", New Britain Herald, New Britain, Connecticut, 7 November 1922, pg. 12

Olympics

As part of the American men's 4×200-meter relay teams, he won a bronze medal in 1908 and a silver medal in 1912; in 1912 he also took the gold, winning the 100-meter backstroke event. In the 100-meter freestyle, he was eliminated in the semi-finals in 1908, and in the first round in 1912. In 1920 he was a member of the fourth-place American water polo team.{{cite Sports-Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417170115/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/he/harry-hebner-1.html |title=Harry Hebner |archive-date=2020-04-17 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/he/harry-hebner-1.html |url-status=dead}}

Between 1910 and 1917, Hebner held all world backstroke records and won seven consecutive U.S. National backstroke titles. In total, he won 35 national titles that spanned from the 50 to the 500 yard freestyle, and all of the existing backstroke distances. He was the captain both the Illinois Athletic club in both swimming and water polo. A leader and noted performer in water polo as well, between 1914 and 1924, his IAC Water Polo team won the U.S. Nationals five times.

Honors

In 1968 he was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.ishof.org/harry-hebner-(usa).html |title=Harry Hebner (USA) |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame |access-date=April 12, 2015 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905183342/http://ishof.org/harry-hebner-(usa).html |url-status=dead }} In 1980, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.{{cite web|title=Harry J Hebner (1980) |url=https://usawaterpolo.org/hof.aspx?hof=124 |website=usawaterpolo.org |publisher=USA Water Polo |access-date=18 September 2020 }}{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://usawaterpolo.org/sports/2018/11/28/trads-hof-inductees-html.aspx |website=usawaterpolo.org |publisher=USA Water Polo |access-date=18 September 2020 }}

He died in Michigan City, Indiana on October 12, 1968, and was buried at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Chicago.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106303221/ex-swimmer-hebner-dies/ |title=Ex-Swimmer, Hebner, Dies |newspaper=South Bend Tribune |location=Michigan City, Indiana |agency=AP |page=7 |date=1968-10-13 |access-date=2022-07-25 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106303783/death-notices-hebner/ |title=Death Notices: Hebner |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=66 |date=1968-10-14 |access-date=2022-07-25 |via=Newspapers.com}}