David Walters (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
David Walters is an American
swimmer
and Olympic gold medalist. He graduated from Tabb High School
.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
, Walters earned a gold medal by swimming in the heats of the 4×200 m freestyle relay. As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100 m medley relay (long course). Walters is also a seven-time medalist (five gold, one silver, one bronze) at the World Aquatics Championships.
, Erik Vendt
, and Klete Keller
. Their time of 7:04.66 broke the previous Olympic record of 7:07.05 set by Australia
in 2000. In the final of the 4×200 m freestyle, Michael Phelps
, Ryan Lochte
, Berens, and Peter Vanderkaay
, swam a combined time of 6:58.56, a new world record.
with a time of 1:44.95. In the 100 m freestyle, Walters placed second to Nathan Adrian
in a time of 48.17. In the 50 m freestyle, Walters placed 15th in the heats with a time of 22.60.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
in Rome
, Walters earned a gold medal as a member of the 4×200 m freestyle relay. Walters, with Michael Phelps, Ricky Berens
, and Ryan Lochte
swam a combined time of 6:58.55 to break the world record set last year in Beijing
. In the 100 m freestyle final, Walters placed 5th with a time of 47.33 to break Michael Phelps' American record of 47.51. Walters placed 12th overall in the 200 m freestyle and did not advance to the final. In the 4×100 m medley relay final, Walters, with Aaron Peirsol
, Michael Phelps, and Eric Shanteau
, swam a combined time of 3:27.28 to break the world record set last year in Beijing.
Key: NR = National record
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and Olympic gold medalist. He graduated from Tabb High School
Tabb High School
Tabb High School is a public high school located in Tabb, an unincorporated community in southern York County, Virginia. It is part of the York County School Division. The school opened in 1972 and is located near the site of the first land battle of the US Civil War-the Battle of Big Bethel....
.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, Walters earned a gold medal by swimming in the heats of the 4×200 m freestyle relay. As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100 m medley relay (long course). Walters is also a seven-time medalist (five gold, one silver, one bronze) at the World Aquatics Championships.
2008 Summer Olympic Games
Walters swam the first leg of the 4×200 m freestyle preliminaries (in 1:46.57) with Ricky BerensRicky Berens
Richard Berens is an American Olympic swimmer.-Career:At the 2007 Pan American Games, Berens won a gold medal in the 4x100 m medley, and silver medals in both the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x200 m freestyle relays.At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Berens won the gold medal in the men's 4x200 m freestyle...
, Erik Vendt
Erik Vendt
Erik Vendt is a retired American swimmer. He won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics...
, and Klete Keller
Klete Keller
Klete Keller is an American freestyle swimmer who won medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 400 m freestyle and the 4x200 m freestyle relay. In the 4x200 m freestyle relay, Keller held off a charging Ian Thorpe in the anchor leg to win the race by 0.13 seconds...
. Their time of 7:04.66 broke the previous Olympic record of 7:07.05 set by Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2000. In the final of the 4×200 m freestyle, Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
, Ryan Lochte
Ryan Lochte
Ryan Steven Lochte is an American swimmer and a six-time Olympic medalist . As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay...
, Berens, and Peter Vanderkaay
Peter Vanderkaay
Peter Vanderkaay is an American middle-distance freestyle swimmer. He is a three-time Olympic medalist.-Personal life:...
, swam a combined time of 6:58.56, a new world record.
2009 World Championships
At the 2009 National Championships, Walters competed in three events. In his first event, the 200 m freestyle, Walters placed second to Michael PhelpsMichael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
with a time of 1:44.95. In the 100 m freestyle, Walters placed second to Nathan Adrian
Nathan Adrian
Nathan Adrian is an American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist who currently holds the American record in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle ....
in a time of 48.17. In the 50 m freestyle, Walters placed 15th in the heats with a time of 22.60.
At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships
2009 World Aquatics Championships
The 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Walters earned a gold medal as a member of the 4×200 m freestyle relay. Walters, with Michael Phelps, Ricky Berens
Ricky Berens
Richard Berens is an American Olympic swimmer.-Career:At the 2007 Pan American Games, Berens won a gold medal in the 4x100 m medley, and silver medals in both the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x200 m freestyle relays.At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Berens won the gold medal in the men's 4x200 m freestyle...
, and Ryan Lochte
Ryan Lochte
Ryan Steven Lochte is an American swimmer and a six-time Olympic medalist . As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay...
swam a combined time of 6:58.55 to break the world record set last year in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. In the 100 m freestyle final, Walters placed 5th with a time of 47.33 to break Michael Phelps' American record of 47.51. Walters placed 12th overall in the 200 m freestyle and did not advance to the final. In the 4×100 m medley relay final, Walters, with Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Peirsol
Aaron Wells Peirsol is a former American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke. He is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist . As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay...
, Michael Phelps, and Eric Shanteau
Eric Shanteau
Eric Lee Shanteau is an American Olympic swimmer. He lives and trains in Austin, Texas.-College:...
, swam a combined time of 3:27.28 to break the world record set last year in Beijing.
Personal bests
.| Event | Time | Venue | Date | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle (long course) | 22.60 | Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
July 9, 2009 | |
| 100 m freestyle (long course) | 47.33 | Rome | July 30, 2009 | NR |
| 200 m freestyle (long course) | 1:44.95 | Indianapolis | July 8, 2009 |
Key: NR = National record