One of the University of Illinois’ most brilliant athletes during the 1930s was swimmer Charles Flachmann.
Born June 21, 1913, in St. Louis, he starred for coach Ed Manley’s Fighting Illini as a freestyle sprinter. Flachmann lettered in 1933, ’34 and ’35, winning NCAA 50-meter freestyle titles as a junior (23.8 seconds) and senior (23.0). He was also the NCAA’s 100-meter champ in 1935 (52.4).
Flachmann dominated the ‘35 Big Ten meet, leading the field in dash events and as anchorman on the record-setting 440-yard relay team. He was an art major at Illinois.
In 1944, during World War II, Flachmann served as a coordinator of swimming for the 7th Army Air Forces in the Central Pacific.