Buster Crabbe, byname of Clarence Lindon Crabbe, (born Feb. 7, 1908, Oakland, Calif., U.S.—died April 23, 1983, Scottsdale, Ariz.), American swimmer whose Olympic gold medal led to a protracted performing profession.
Crabbe, who grew up in Hawaii and swam for the University of Southern California, competed on the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, successful a bronze medal within the 1,500-metre freestyle and ending in fourth place within the 400-metre freestyle. At the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, Crabbe confronted world report holder Jean Taris of France and Olympic report holder Takashi Yokoyama of Japan within the 400-metre freestyle finals. Taris led many of the race, however Crabbe pulled even with 25 m to go and reached the wall one-tenth of a second forward of Taris to set an Olympic report (4 min 48.4 sec) and win the gold medal.
Hollywood film producers, conscious of the performing success loved by Johnny Weissmuller after his Olympic swimming gold, signed Crabbe to an performing contract. He starred in additional than 170 films, together with the title roles within the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials. He additionally appeared on tv, authored health books, and owned a profitable swimming pool firm. Crabbe set 16 world information and was named to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.