Background
Wiggins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of a vice-president of Westinghouse Air Brake Company.
Wiggins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of a vice-president of Westinghouse Air Brake Company.
He also participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics and finished seventh in the 100-meter backstroke event. He attended Allderdice High School and then Ohio State University, where he trained under the 1952 Olympic coach Mike Peppe.
Although he was recognized as a world top medley swimmer, this event became Olympic only in 1964. Although he was tall and well built, Wiggins was shortsighted from a young age and wore glasses. He therefore avoided sports requiring physical contact and chose swimming instead.
He started training at a club at age 13.
Although he was interested in backstroke, this discipline was then dominated by Yoshi Oyakawa, which led Wiggins to explore other styles. Wiggins retired from competitions at age 22 to pursue a career in law, and, after graduating from Harvard Law School, returned to Pittsburgh to work at Reed Smith Shaw & McClay.
The couple established a private firm and worked in the field of tax and estate law. Wiggins retired from practicing law in 2001.
He continued to swim through most of his life, mostly in his private pool, but avoided masters competitions.
He died in Pittsburgh, aged 76, from a tear in the aorta after a morning swim. Wiggins was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1994. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in April 1956 when he was 21 years old.
He is one of 68 athletes to have been featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of the magazine and then also appear on a cover.