Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Jack Weyman Nelson |
National team | United States |
Born | Chickamauga, Georgia | November 8, 1931
Died | November 5, 2014 Fort Lauderdale, Florida | (aged 82)
Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
Weight | 161 lb (73 kg) |
Sport | |
Sport | Swimming |
Strokes | Butterfly |
Club | North Carolina Athletic Club |
College team | University of Miami |
Jack Weyman Nelson (November 8, 1931 – November 5, 2014) was an American competition swimmer and swimming coach.
Nelson competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia representing the United States. He later served as a head coach for the U.S. Olympic women's swim team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec. Nelson was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Coach" in 1994, and the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.
Nelson was notably accused of rape and sexual harassment by Diana Nyad and her teammates.
Nelson represented the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and competed in the men's 200-meter butterfly, finishing fourth in the event final. He later served as the head coach for the U.S. Olympic women's swim team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec.[1]
Nelson was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Coach" in 1994.[2]
Nelson died on November 5, 2014, of complications from Alzheimer's disease; he was 82.[3]
Nelson has been accused by Diana Nyad, a former pupil, and her teammates, of rape and sexual harassment. Nyad and her teammates first reported sexual assault incidents to the headmaster of Pine Crest, William McMillan, in 1971–1972; McMillan subsequently terminated Nelson's contract. Nelson continued to coach the Pine Crest School swim team as he also coached the USA Olympic swim teams in 1976 and 1980. [4] Nyad more recently said publicly that Nelson molested her beginning when she was 14 years old and continued until she graduated from high school at Pine Crest School, as he did with other girls he coached.[5][6][7] The incidents of sexual assault are depicted in the 2023 film Nyad with Eric T. Miller as Nelson.