Anton M. Cerer (October 30, 1916 – May 25, 2006) was the first Slovenian or Yugoslav swimmer to win a European medal.[1] His career was interrupted by World War II, yet he competed at the Summer Olympics in 1936 and 1948 and European championships in 1938, 1947 and 1950. He won two European medals and finished fifth at the 1948 Olympics in the 200 m breaststroke event.[2][3]

Anton Cerer
Personal information
BornOctober 30, 1916
Kamnik, Austro-Hungary
DiedMay 25, 2006 (aged 89)
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Sport
SportSwimming
ClubO*H*I*O Masters Swim Club
Medal record
Swimming
Representing  Yugoslavia
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1938 London 200 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place 1947 Monte Carlo 200 m breaststroke

He was born in Slovenia, formerly part of Yugoslavia, but in the 1950s emigrated to the United States. Between 1983 and 2002 he competed in the masters category and dominated world championships in his age group (above 80) in breaststroke, butterfly and medley disciplines.[4] He died after slipping in a pool in Cleveland, Ohio, aged 90, while training for the FINA World Masters Championships.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Olympic Athlete Directory". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-19.
  2. ^ "Tone Cerer". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18.
  3. ^ "Natation - Anton Cerer (Yougoslavie)". les-sports.info.
  4. ^ "Anton M Cerer - USMS Swimmer". U.S. Masters Swimming.
  5. ^ Whitten, Phillip (June 12, 2006). "Masters Great, Olympian Anton Cerer Dies in Accident at 90". swimmingworldmagazine.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2007.