Konrads is the family name of two Australian swimming champions, brother and sister. They were born in Riga, Latvia, and immigrated to Australia in 1949. They later became naturalized Australians. The two of them, John and Ilsa, came to be known as the Konrads Kids.
John (Jon) Konrads
(1942-2021) held every world freestyle record from 200 meters to 1,500 meters in 1959. From 1958 to 1961, he broke 26 individual world records. He began training with the Australian swimming coach Don Talbot in 1953. At 15, Konrads held six world records. At the Australian championships of 1959, he won all the men’s freestyle events. At the 1960 Olympic Games, he won the 1,500-meter freestyle event as well as bronze medals in the 400-meter race and the 800-meter freestyle relay. Later, he became a coach and worked in business. John was born May 21, 1942. His birth name was Janis, the Latvian form of “John.” He later used the spellings “Jon” and “John.” He died on April 25, 2021.
Ilsa Konrads
(1944-…) began swimming at a migrant hostel in the New South Wales town of Uranquinty. She also trained under Don Talbot, beginning in 1953. When she was only 13, she held two world records. She eventually broke all the world records for women’s freestyle from 400 meters to 1,500 meters. During her career, she broke 12 individual world records. In the 1960 Olympic Games, she swam on the 400-meter relay team that won the silver medal. Ilsa was born March 29, 1944. She later became a journalist.
