Daniel Kowalski
Encyclopedia
Daniel Steven Kowalski (born 2 July 1975 in Singapore
) is a former Australian middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle
events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200 m, 400 m and 1,500 m individual freestyle events and in the 4x200 m freestyle relay. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
, he was the first man in 92 years to earn medals in all of the 200 m, 400 m and 1500 m freestyle events. Kowalski was however perhaps best known for being perpetual "bridesmaid" to fellow Australians Kieren Perkins
and Grant Hackett
, who were respectively the world's best 1500 m freestyle competitors during the earlier and later parts of Kowalski's career.
setting Australian gold medal 4x200 m relay team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
. Kowalski also holds 400 freestyle long course masters world record in the 30 to 34 age group which he set on the 2nd May 2009 in a time of 3:58.42
, graduating in 2003. He was named as an assistant swimming coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 2007, and also won the 2007 Pier to Pub
1.2 km open water swim – the largest open water swim in the world – held annually in Lorne
, Australia.
In February 2004, he was the host of an overnight program on SEN 1116
with former Magic basketballer Andrew Parkinson. In May 2007 Kowalski appeared as one of the celebrity performers on the celebrity reality singing competition It Takes Two.
In April 2010 Kowalski announced that he is gay
. Kowalski says he was inspired to come out by Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas
, who announced last December that he was gay.
He said "I felt really compelled to do it because it's very tough to live a closeted existence".
In 2010, Kowalski was selected by readers of samesame.com.au as one of the 25 most influential gay Australians.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
) is a former Australian middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle
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...
events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200 m, 400 m and 1,500 m individual freestyle events and in the 4x200 m freestyle relay. 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....
, he was the first man in 92 years to earn medals in all of the 200 m, 400 m and 1500 m freestyle events. Kowalski was however perhaps best known for being perpetual "bridesmaid" to fellow Australians Kieren Perkins
Kieren Perkins
Kieren John Perkins OAM , is a former Australian professional swimmer. One of the world's best-ever long-distance swimmers, he won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 in the 1500-metre freestyle, and a silver medal in 2000....
and Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett
Grant Hackett OAM is an Australian former swimmer most famous for winning the men's 1500 metres freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This achievement has led him to be regarded as one of the greatest distance swimmers in history...
, who were respectively the world's best 1500 m freestyle competitors during the earlier and later parts of Kowalski's career.
Olympic medals
- 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
: gold medal in the 4x200 m freestyle relay (Kowalski was replaced in the final by Ian ThorpeIan ThorpeIan James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most...
but as a swimmer in the qualifying heat, he shares the gold medal). - 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer OlympicsThe 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....
: silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle, bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle, and bronze medal in the 200 m freestyle.
World championship results
- 1998 World Aquatics Championships1998 World Aquatics ChampionshipsThe 1998 World Aquatics Championships or the 8th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia between 8 January and 17 January 1998....
: silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle - 1994 World Aquatics Championships1994 World Aquatics ChampionshipsThe 1994 FINA World Aquatics Championships were held in Rome, Italy between September 1 and September 11, 1994.-Medal table:-Diving:MenWomen-Open water swimming:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronized swimming:-Water polo:...
: gold medal in the 4x200 m relay, bronze medal in the 1500 m freestyle
World records
Kowalski was part of the world recordWorld record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
setting Australian gold medal 4x200 m relay team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
. Kowalski also holds 400 freestyle long course masters world record in the 30 to 34 age group which he set on the 2nd May 2009 in a time of 3:58.42
Retirement
Kowalski announced his retirement from competitive swimming on 8 May 2002. He studied sports marketing at Bond UniversityBond University
Bond University is a private university located in Robina, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is also the first private university established in Australia...
, graduating in 2003. He was named as an assistant swimming coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 2007, and also won the 2007 Pier to Pub
Pier to Pub
The Lorne Pier to Pub is an annual, 1.2-km open water swimming race held in January at Lorne, a town located on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia...
1.2 km open water swim – the largest open water swim in the world – held annually in Lorne
Lorne, Victoria
Lorne is a seaside town on Louttit Bay in Victoria, Australia. It is situated about the Erskine River and is a popular destination on the Great Ocean Road tourist route...
, Australia.
In February 2004, he was the host of an overnight program on SEN 1116
SEN 1116
SEN 1116 , the acronym standing for Sports Entertainment Network, is a commercial AM radio station based in Melbourne, Australia, operating on 1116 kHz...
with former Magic basketballer Andrew Parkinson. In May 2007 Kowalski appeared as one of the celebrity performers on the celebrity reality singing competition It Takes Two.
In April 2010 Kowalski announced that he is gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Kowalski says he was inspired to come out by Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas (rugby player)
Gareth Thomas , known as Alfie, is a retired Welsh professional rugby footballer who played rugby league for the Crusaders RL in the Super League. He also previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and as a fullback, wing or centre.On 26 May 2007, Thomas surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the...
, who announced last December that he was gay.
He said "I felt really compelled to do it because it's very tough to live a closeted existence".
In 2010, Kowalski was selected by readers of samesame.com.au as one of the 25 most influential gay Australians.