Peter Szmidt
Encyclopedia
Peter Szmidt was a Canadian
swimmer, competing in the freestyle
events during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Szmidt competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics
and was supposed to represent his native country at the 1980 Summer Olympics
, but didn't start due to the international boycott of the Moscow Games. A resident of Sarnia, Ontario
he won a total number of three medals at the 1979 Pan American Games
.
On July 15, 1980, at the Canadian Olympic trials, Szmidt set the world record for 400 m freestyle with a time of 3:50:49. He held the world record at the time of the 1980 Olympics, in which he did not race due to the boycott. The world record stood for 18 months, and was a Canadian record for 20 years.
Szmidt swam in competition with the legendary Russian swimmer Vladimir Salnikov
who dominated long-distance freestyle swimming in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Szmidt's 400 m record was the only interruption in Salnikov's title as the world record holder for 400 m freestyle from 1979 through 1985.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
swimmer, competing in the 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 during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Szmidt competed 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...
and was supposed to represent his native country at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, but didn't start due to the international boycott of the Moscow Games. A resident of Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
he won a total number of three medals at the 1979 Pan American Games
1979 Pan American Games
The 8th Pan American Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15, 1979. The capital of Puerto Rico played host to 3,700 athletes from 34 countries competing in 22 sports, making the VIII Pan American Games the largest to date. Security was a concern due to turmoil over the...
.
On July 15, 1980, at the Canadian Olympic trials, Szmidt set the world record for 400 m freestyle with a time of 3:50:49. He held the world record at the time of the 1980 Olympics, in which he did not race due to the boycott. The world record stood for 18 months, and was a Canadian record for 20 years.
Szmidt swam in competition with the legendary Russian swimmer Vladimir Salnikov
Vladimir Salnikov
Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikov is a Russian former swimmer who competed for the USSR and set 12 world records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1,500-meter freestyle. Nicknamed a "monster in the waves", he was the first man to swim under fifteen minutes in the 1500-meter freestyle...
who dominated long-distance freestyle swimming in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Szmidt's 400 m record was the only interruption in Salnikov's title as the world record holder for 400 m freestyle from 1979 through 1985.