George W. Van Cleaf (October 8, 1879 – January 6, 1905) was an American water polo player and swimmer who represented the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] At the 1904 Olympics, Van Cleaf was sponsored by the New York Athletic Club. He won a gold medal as a member of the New York Athletic Club's Olympic water polo team, and was also a member of the NYAC's fourth-place team in the men's 4x50-yard freestyle relay. He and his water polo teammate, David Bratton, died of typhoid fever within four months after the competition. In 1988, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.[2][3]
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