Schulhof honored by IU Hall of Fame

A Muncie  native, former Hoosier swimmer Lary Schulhof is one of seven honorees who will be inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame at its annual dinner Nov. 2.

As a member of the IU swimming team from 1962-64, Schulhof was a student working on attaining his doctorate in neurosurgery and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Schulhof had many commitments and obligations to a variety of people and organizations during his collegiate career.

If he wanted to be a successful athlete and student, Schulhof said he had no choice between sleeping, studying, partying and training.

“I think a lot of people had a lot of different activities, and I was just like them, and I really had to budget my time,” Schulhof said.

With workouts from 6 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Schulhof would return from practice and grab a late meal with the other athletes at the SAE house, where he resided three of his four years at IU.

Despite juggling athletics, a rigorous class schedule and SAE fraternity obligations, Schulhof earned All-American honors four times.

During his swimming career at IU, Schulhof posted six top five finishes at the NCAA Championships.

A U.S. National Champion in the 100 and 200 butterfly in 1962, member of the world record relay teams in the 4x100 freestyle in 1964 and 4x100 medley in 1963, Schulhof was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo.

“I suddenly saw myself as world class,” Schulhof said. “It’s kind of like discovering that you can do it. You maybe sort of had your doubts that you’re maybe just another one of the swimmers out there, and suddenly, I’m being interviewed by ABC Sports.”

During the six weeks leading up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Schulhof had started medical school and resorted to swimming for half an hour at the Indiana Memorial Union pool during his 45-minute lunch break between classes.

With no lane set aside and limited time to train, Schulhof performed the 100 butterfly in a fast enough time to make the U.S. Olympics team.

“When I made the team, it opened so many doors,” Schulhof said. “When people know you were on the Olympic team, immediately you stand out in a group.”

Schulhof did not swim in the final race, but his participation in qualifications earned him a gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Although Schulhof competed at the highest level with the greatest athletes of his time, he said this achievement is small compared to setting world
records.

“You can win national championships, and you can make Olympic teams, and you can do a lot of great things, but it’s pretty rare to set a world record,” Schulhof said. “I was fortunate enough to have one individual and two relay world records, and in my heart, having three world records was probably one of the most important accomplishments of mine because world records don’t come very often.”

Schulhof said he is flattered to be honored in the Hall of Fame with other IU swimmers who he considers to be the very pinnacle of success in the sport.

“It is just a dream come true,” Schulhof said. “I have always been a huge IU fan down here in Tar Heel country, N.C., and I just am such a fan.

“To be recognized by Indiana University, it’s very special.”