Clarke Scholes, a Michigan State University swimmer who won a gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle at the Helsinki Games in 1952, has died. He was 79.

Scholes collapsed and died on February 5, of congestive heart failure at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

He was the first Michigan State athlete to win an individual Olympic gold medal. He also won five NCAA championships and three Big Ten championships while swimming for Michigan State.

Scholes retired from swimming shortly after winning the 100 free at the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City.

Then, he was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1980.