John Larson (1981) - CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame

John Larson

Induction:
1981
Class:
1977

John Larson was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981. Larson competed for the Matador Swimming team under legendary head coach Pete Accardy from 1975 to 1977.

Larson was a core member of three consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship teams in 1975, 1967, and 1977. He also helped the Matadors secure multiple California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) team titles. Larson_John_Headshot

He won a total of eight NCAA Division II national titles between 1975 and 1977 across individual events and team relays. Larson won three straight NCAA 100-yard butterfly titles, three straight 200-yard butterfly titles, the 200-yard individual medley, and relays in 1975, 1976, and 1977.

During his three-year peak, Larson set three national and five CSUN records from 1975 to 1977. In his signature event at the NCAA Championships, the 100-yard butterfly, Larson swam 50.945 seconds in 1975, 51.130 seconds in 1976, and 50.033 seconds in 1977. When CSUN discontinued the men's swimming program, Larson held the school record in the 100 Fly (50.00).

Before his historic run at CSUN, Larson swam locally at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys and later graduated from CSUN with his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1977.