Rick Carey
Encyclopedia
Richard John Carey (born March 13, 1963) is a former American
swimmer
who specialized in the backstroke
. At the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
, he won three gold medals. He broke nine world records, five individually, and also was a double world champion. He was named as the World Swimmer of the Year
in 1983 by Swimming World magazine
.
in Moscow
, but had to withdraw when the American team boycotted the Olympics due to the Soviet Union
's invasion of Afghanistan
. In 1981 Carey was the American champion in both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke, setting a national record in the latter, after moving to the University of Texas at Austin
to train under Eddie Reese
. In 1982 he collected gold in the 200 m backstroke and 4x100 m medley relay, and silver in the 100m backstroke at the World Championships
in Guayaguil, Ecuador
.
In 1983, Carey set world records of 55.38 s in the 100 m and 1:58.93 s in the 200 m backstroke, breaking marks set in 1976 by John Naber
. At the Pan American Games that year in Caracas, Venezuela
, he lowered the 100 m record to 55.19 s and he also won the 200 m event. He also broke the world record in the 4x100m medley relay, along with Steve Lundquist
, Matt Gribble
and Rowdy Gaines
, all of whom were world record holders in their respective disciplines. This earned him the World Swimmer of the Year award.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
, he won both backstroke events and again was part of the winning medley relay team. Carey created a minor controversy after his victory in the 200m backstroke, when despite winning Olympic gold, he appeared noticeably unhappy about having failed to break his own world record time. He later apologized and responded much more positively to his 100m win, despite the fact that it too fell short of his own world record. He continued to win events at a national level thereafter, retiring in 1986.
Carey now works for UBS Bank in London.
In 1993, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
.
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...
who specialized in the backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
. 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...
, he won three gold medals. He broke nine world records, five individually, and also was a double world champion. He was named as the World Swimmer of the Year
Swimming World Swimmers of the Year
The Swimming World Magazine Swimmers of the Year, awarded by the American-based Swimming World Magazine, are a set of awards which are often regarded as being the most prestigious in the sport of swimming...
in 1983 by Swimming World magazine
Swimming World magazine
Swimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
.
Career
Carey was selected to make his international debut at the 1980 Summer Olympics1980 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...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, but had to withdraw when the American team boycotted the Olympics due to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. In 1981 Carey was the American champion in both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke, setting a national record in the latter, after moving to the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
to train under Eddie Reese
Eddie Reese
Edwin Charles "Eddie" Reese is an American college and Olympic swimming coach and former college swimmer. Reese has been the head coach of the Texas Longhorns men's swimming and diving team that represents the University of Texas in Austin, Texas since 1978, and previously served as the men's...
. In 1982 he collected gold in the 200 m backstroke and 4x100 m medley relay, and silver in the 100m backstroke at the World Championships
1982 World Aquatics Championships
The 1982 World Aquatics Championships took place in Guayaquil, Ecuador between July 29 and August 8, 1982 with 848 participating athletes.- Medals table :-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men...
in Guayaguil, Ecuador
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
.
In 1983, Carey set world records of 55.38 s in the 100 m and 1:58.93 s in the 200 m backstroke, breaking marks set in 1976 by John Naber
John Naber
John Phillips Naber is a former American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke and five-time Olympic medallist .-Career:...
. At the Pan American Games that year in Caracas, Venezuela
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, he lowered the 100 m record to 55.19 s and he also won the 200 m event. He also broke the world record in the 4x100m medley relay, along with Steve Lundquist
Steve Lundquist
Stephen Lundquist is a former swimmer from the United States, who was a member of the Olympic Team when the USA boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
, Matt Gribble
Matt Gribble
Matthew O. "Matt" Gribble was an Olympic and World Record holding swimmer from the United States.Born in Houston, Texas Gribble at one time held the world record in the 100-meter butterfly...
and Rowdy Gaines
Rowdy Gaines
Ambrose Gaines IV is a former American swimmer, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member, Olympic three-time gold medalist, and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame...
, all of whom were world record holders in their respective disciplines. This earned him the World Swimmer of the Year award.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics, held at the McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, located on the USC campus. There was a total of 494 participants from 67 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:...
, he won both backstroke events and again was part of the winning medley relay team. Carey created a minor controversy after his victory in the 200m backstroke, when despite winning Olympic gold, he appeared noticeably unhappy about having failed to break his own world record time. He later apologized and responded much more positively to his 100m win, despite the fact that it too fell short of his own world record. He continued to win events at a national level thereafter, retiring in 1986.
Carey now works for UBS Bank in London.
In 1993, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
.
External links
- Rick Carey biography and Olympic results, from http://www.sports-reference.com/.