100 Years of the
WEST SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

ATHLETES HONOR ROLL

JOHN KINSELLA -- Hinsdale Central

Despite winning five individual state championships at the IHSA state swim meet, Kinsella is best known for being a silver medalist as a 16-year-old high school student in the 1500-meter freestyle event at the 1968 Olympic Games.  John won state titles in the 100-yard freestyle in 1968; the 400-yard freestyle in 1969 and 1970; the 200-yard freestyle in 1969; and the 200-yard individual medley in 1970.  As a senior in high school, Kinsella was awarded the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Award in 1970, as the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete of the year, and became the first person to ever swim the 1,500 meters in under 16 minutes.  At Indiana University, John won six NCAA national championships.  At the 1972 Summer Olympics, Kinsella won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay, that established a new world record.  John would go on to set individual world records in the 400-meter freestyle and 1500-meter freestyle events.  Kinsella was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1986.