91-Year-Old Olympian, Adolph Kiefer, to Interview with WGN Chicago

Nov. 12, 2009 - PRLog -- Zion, Illinois—On Wednesday, November 18th 1936 Olympic Gold Medalist Adolph Kiefer will appear live on Chicago’s WGN television during the Midday Fix. The segment will focus on a new video documentary of the 91-year-old’s life as an Olympian and how Kiefer hopes his story will encourage young people to make sports and physical fitness a life-long priority. Michal McClure, producer of the documentary titled “Olympian for Life,” will accompany Kiefer, share his personal inspiration for the video, and discuss his aspirations for its release.

Soon to be available for public viewing, “Olympian for Life” revisits the day Adolph Kiefer learned to swim as the result of a near fatal accident. Kiefer recalls falling into a Chicago drainage canal, “I didn’t lose my head. I rolled over, kicked my feet, and slowly but surely worked my way up to the parapet. That was the first time in my life ever swimming—swimming the backstroke.”

Despite the loss of his father and the onset of the Great Depression, young Kiefer followed his father’s encouraging words that one day he would be the “best swimmer in the world.” By the age of 15, Adolph Kiefer met the challenge. At the Lakeshore Athletic Club where Kiefer worked as an elevator operator to support his family, the coach timed Kiefer’s backstroke. According to the coach, Kiefer had surpassed the world’s record.

At the age of 17, Kiefer won the gold medal for the 100-meter backstroke in the 1936 Olympics. Ultimately Kiefer participated in over 2,000 races in which he only lost twice. Although Kiefer’s Olympic career was limited due to the onset of World War II and the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games, Kiefer’s life-long journey of promoting safety, health and fitness was just beginning.

As a videographer, producer, and photographer, Michal McClure has traveled extensively throughout his life, capturing cultures, people, and nature through the lens of a camera. However, for this video McClure didn’t need to look far for inspiration. Kiefer and McClure are neighbors. “Every morning at about 8:30, I can see Adolph, his wife Joyce, and their golden retriever pile into the car for another day at the office. That picture stays with me. And, I don’t even need to capture it on film.”

Television viewers in the Chicagoland area can watch the live interview with Adolph Kiefer and Michal McClure during the WGN Midday Fix, on Wednesday, November 18th. The segment is expected to air between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm Central Standard Time. An archive of the WGN television interview will be made available on www.wgntv.com. The full “Olympian for Life” documentary will be available for viewing after the WGN interview at www.kiefer.com.

About Adolph Kiefer & Associates:
Gold medalist Olympic swimmer Adolph Kiefer founded Adolph Kiefer & Associates in 1947. The Illinois based company provides the swim community with many innovative aquatic performance and safety products including the original Wave Eater racing lane, fully customizable starting blocks, lifeguard equipment and apparel, and a complete line of swimwear and goggles. Today, Mr. Kiefer continues to dedicate his life to helping swimmers of all ages and abilities. The company sponsors a full calendar of competitive swimming events and is a top competitive swim team supplier. For more information about Adolph Kiefer & Associates, visit www.Kiefer.com.

About Michal McClure:
Michal McClure’s stories and photographs have appeared in a number of U.S. and Canadian publications. In 2008 he completed a three-year documentary on the life and culture of the Hawaiian cowboys and their families. He and his wife, Ilse, live on a Northern Illinois horse farm where they raised their two sons, Brian, and Christopher, who are also photographers.

Contact:
Kerry Andersen, Public Relations
Adolph Kiefer and Associates, Inc.
847-872-8866 (ext. 649)
kandersen@kiefer.com
www.kiefer.com

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Adolph Kiefer and Associates, Inc. offers Olympic quality racing lanes and starting blocks, rescue tubes and cans, lifeguard chairs and equipment, swimwear, swim goggles, swim caps, kickboards, flags, stanchions, custom team wear, and more.