WITLOLD BABULA

1990 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Witold better known as Andy, competed for the Olneyville Boys’ Club during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.  At the age of ten, he joined the boys’ club team on the recommendation of his doctor because of a childhood disease that prevented him from walking until the age of five.

At Olneyville, swimming for coach Joe Watmough, he competed o many relays along with swimming greats John Higgins, Matt Chrostowski, and tony Soltysiak.  During his age group training he won numerous State and New England championship titles.  He also successfully competed in the Brown Interscholastic championship as an eighth grade student – the first junior high school student to be permitted to enter the meet.  Although Andy was a capable freestyler at all distances, he is best remembered for his sprinting ability as reflected in his National Junior 100 yard freestyle championship won at Harvard University.  At that meet, Andy qualified and competed in the 1936 Olympic trials and earned two silver medals.