In 1960, American Jeff Farrell was the favorite to win the gold medal in two swimming events at the Rome Olympic Games.

Three days after setting new American records in two events and just six days before the Olympic trials, rushed to hospital for an emergency appendectomy.  Given that this was a time before laparoscopic surgeries, doctors said his Olympic dreams were over. There was no way he could swim in the trials.

But wait until you learn about the dramatic chain of events that came next.

Jeff looks back on the incredible moments leading up to the 1960 Games and explains why, more than 50 years later, swimming is still his therapy. After taking a couple decades off, he jumped back in the pool and started smashing records, again. He’s even picked up a few new scars on his body from open heart surgery.