Bruce Hayes (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Hayes (born March 8, 1963) is a retired American freestyle
and individual medley swimmer in the early 1980s. Hayes is best known for anchoring the U.S. men’s 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
.
A native of Sarasota, Florida, Hayes’ success as a Texas age group and high school swimmer earned him a full scholarship to UCLA. He was the highest scoring freshman at the 1982 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships, helping the Bruins win the team title.
Hayes represented the United States in several international swimming meets. He qualified in the 400-metre and 1500-metre freestyle events for the U.S. national team that won a 1981 dual meet against the USSR in Kiev, Ukraine. At the 1982 FINA World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he was a finalist in the 400-metre individual medley and also contested the 400-metre and 1500-metre freestyle events.
Hayes’ first national and international titles came in 1983. He won seven medals at the 1983 World University Games in Edmonton
– the most by any American swimmer – and his win in the 200-metre freestyle was the only U.S. gold. His UCLA coach Ron Ballatore was quoted in Sports Illustrated about Hayes’ Edmonton performance, saying, “Hayes can come home better than anyone I’ve ever seen.” A few weeks later, he won the 200-metre freestyle at the 1983 summer United States Swimming Championships
.
At the 1983 Pan American Games
in Caracas, Venezuela, Hayes won three gold medals in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle races and in the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay. He also collected three gold medals at the 1983 Descente International Invitational Swim Meet in Tokyo
in the same three events.
Hayes won the 400-metre freestyle race at the 1984 winter United States Swimming Championships for his second national title. He finished third in the 200-metre freestyle at the 1984 United States Olympic Swimming Trials
, qualifying him for a place on the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team in Los Angeles. In an interview, Hayes commented that he was "proud" of his performance at the Winter United States Swimming Championships.
In an event unaffected by the Soviet-led boycott, the Americans would battle a talented West German relay team including the 200-metre freestyle world record holder, Michael Groß. The U.S. coaches decided to capitalize on Hayes’ finishing ability by having him take the final leg behind teammates Mike Heath
, David Larson
and Jeff Float.
With the U.S. ahead by one-and-a-half seconds after the third leg, Groß pulled even with Hayes after the first turn and was slightly ahead after the third. Yet, despite Groß’ swimming the fastest 200-metre relay split to date, Hayes’ closing strength resulted in a best personal time by more than a second, including the fastest final 50 metres ever. Hayes out-touched Groß by .04, with the U.S. setting a world record 7:15.69.
The Los Angeles media dubbed Hayes’ team the “Grossbusters.” Among their many PR appearances was a Vanity Fair magazine cover with Raquel Welch. Capping the year, the U.S. men’s 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team won the 1984 Phillips Performance Award. Hayes appears in Bud Greenspan’s documentary of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, 16 Days of Glory, in the segment about the race.
Hayes captured one more national title before retiring when he won the 200-metre freestyle at the 1984 summer United States Swimming Championships, held after the Olympics. He subsequently earned a Masters degree in journalism at Northwestern University
in Chicago
and then moved to New York City
to begin a professional career in public relations. He joined Team New York Aquatics
in 1990 and began competing again, this time in Masters swimming events. He became the first Olympic gold medalist to compete at the Gay Games
when he swam at Gay Games III in Vancouver
in August 1990.
In 1992, Hayes became the first American Olympic gold medalist to declare his homosexuality publicly when he was profiled by Dick Schaap
for ABC’s World News Tonight regarding the challenges of being gay in the sports community. He became a spokesperson for the Gay Games IV in New York City in 1994.
At Gay Games IV, his swimming success continued – he set five 25-metre short course Masters World records in the 30-34 age group, including becoming the first Masters swimmer to break 4:00 in the 400-metre freestyle. He was included in Out magazine’s 1994 list of the 100 most influential gays and lesbians in America.
Hayes worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as the Assistant Competition Manager for Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics
. During his time in Atlanta, he co-founded the Atlanta Rainbow Trout Masters swimming team.
He resumed his public relations career at Edelman in New York following the Atlanta Olympics and later worked for two years in Edelman’s Madrid office. In 2002, Hayes became a charter member of the Gay Games Ambassadors. He attended the Gay Games’ 25th anniversary celebration in San Francisco in 2007 and presented the Federation of Gay Games
’ inaugural Media Award.
Hayes swam again at the 2010 Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany, winning a bronze in the 1500m Freestyle (age 45-49) behind Aaron Murphy (Great Britain) and Jonathan Haines (Australia).
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
and individual medley swimmer in the early 1980s. Hayes is best known for anchoring the U.S. men’s 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
A native of Sarasota, Florida, Hayes’ success as a Texas age group and high school swimmer earned him a full scholarship to UCLA. He was the highest scoring freshman at the 1982 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships, helping the Bruins win the team title.
Hayes represented the United States in several international swimming meets. He qualified in the 400-metre and 1500-metre freestyle events for the U.S. national team that won a 1981 dual meet against the USSR in Kiev, Ukraine. At the 1982 FINA World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he was a finalist in the 400-metre individual medley and also contested the 400-metre and 1500-metre freestyle events.
Hayes’ first national and international titles came in 1983. He won seven medals at the 1983 World University Games in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
– the most by any American swimmer – and his win in the 200-metre freestyle was the only U.S. gold. His UCLA coach Ron Ballatore was quoted in Sports Illustrated about Hayes’ Edmonton performance, saying, “Hayes can come home better than anyone I’ve ever seen.” A few weeks later, he won the 200-metre freestyle at the 1983 summer United States Swimming Championships
United States Swimming Championships
The United States Swimming Championships are held annually in the summer. The event is governed by USA Swimming.-Venues:*1962 - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio , Chicago, Illinois *1963 - Oak Park, IL , High Point, North Carolina...
.
At the 1983 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Caracas, Venezuela, Hayes won three gold medals in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle races and in the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay. He also collected three gold medals at the 1983 Descente International Invitational Swim Meet in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in the same three events.
Hayes won the 400-metre freestyle race at the 1984 winter United States Swimming Championships for his second national title. He finished third in the 200-metre freestyle at the 1984 United States Olympic Swimming Trials
United States Olympic Trials (swimming)
The United States Olympic Team Trials in Swimming are held before every Summer Olympics to select the participators for the USA's swimming team. The event is overseen by the United States Olympic Committee and run/operated by USA Swimming....
, qualifying him for a place on the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team in Los Angeles. In an interview, Hayes commented that he was "proud" of his performance at the Winter United States Swimming Championships.
In an event unaffected by the Soviet-led boycott, the Americans would battle a talented West German relay team including the 200-metre freestyle world record holder, Michael Groß. The U.S. coaches decided to capitalize on Hayes’ finishing ability by having him take the final leg behind teammates Mike Heath
Michael Heath (swimmer)
Michael Steward "Mike" Heath is a former American college and international swimmer who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.- College career :...
, David Larson
David Larson
David Erwin Larson is a former American college and international swimmer who was an Olympic gold medalist.- Early years :Larson was born in Jesup, Georgia in 1959...
and Jeff Float.
With the U.S. ahead by one-and-a-half seconds after the third leg, Groß pulled even with Hayes after the first turn and was slightly ahead after the third. Yet, despite Groß’ swimming the fastest 200-metre relay split to date, Hayes’ closing strength resulted in a best personal time by more than a second, including the fastest final 50 metres ever. Hayes out-touched Groß by .04, with the U.S. setting a world record 7:15.69.
The Los Angeles media dubbed Hayes’ team the “Grossbusters.” Among their many PR appearances was a Vanity Fair magazine cover with Raquel Welch. Capping the year, the U.S. men’s 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team won the 1984 Phillips Performance Award. Hayes appears in Bud Greenspan’s documentary of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, 16 Days of Glory, in the segment about the race.
Hayes captured one more national title before retiring when he won the 200-metre freestyle at the 1984 summer United States Swimming Championships, held after the Olympics. He subsequently earned a Masters degree in journalism at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to begin a professional career in public relations. He joined Team New York Aquatics
Team New York Aquatics
Team New York Aquatics is a Masters level swim, water polo and diving team based in New York City to foster aquatic sports amongst gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender athletes and their heterosexual allies. TNYA has a membership of over 500 swimmers, divers, and water polo players...
in 1990 and began competing again, this time in Masters swimming events. He became the first Olympic gold medalist to compete at the Gay Games
Gay Games
The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level...
when he swam at Gay Games III in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in August 1990.
In 1992, Hayes became the first American Olympic gold medalist to declare his homosexuality publicly when he was profiled by Dick Schaap
Dick Schaap
Richard Jay Schaap was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author.-Early life and education:...
for ABC’s World News Tonight regarding the challenges of being gay in the sports community. He became a spokesperson for the Gay Games IV in New York City in 1994.
At Gay Games IV, his swimming success continued – he set five 25-metre short course Masters World records in the 30-34 age group, including becoming the first Masters swimmer to break 4:00 in the 400-metre freestyle. He was included in Out magazine’s 1994 list of the 100 most influential gays and lesbians in America.
Hayes worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as the Assistant Competition Manager for Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. During his time in Atlanta, he co-founded the Atlanta Rainbow Trout Masters swimming team.
He resumed his public relations career at Edelman in New York following the Atlanta Olympics and later worked for two years in Edelman’s Madrid office. In 2002, Hayes became a charter member of the Gay Games Ambassadors. He attended the Gay Games’ 25th anniversary celebration in San Francisco in 2007 and presented the Federation of Gay Games
Federation of Gay Games
-Concept and official purpose:According to the Federation of Gay Games :-Schism in LGBT sports communities over Gay Games VII:In 2001, the Federation of Gay Games awarded the seventh edition of the Gay Games to Montréal, Quebec, Canada for 2006, but the FGG removed its sanction in late 2003 after...
’ inaugural Media Award.
Hayes swam again at the 2010 Gay Games VIII in Cologne, Germany, winning a bronze in the 1500m Freestyle (age 45-49) behind Aaron Murphy (Great Britain) and Jonathan Haines (Australia).