Rick DeMont
Encyclopedia
Rick DeMont is an American former swimmer who set a record for the 1500m freestyle
. A graduate in 1973 of Terra Linda High School
, he was a member of the US Olympic team and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
, Germany
where he won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle. In 1973, at First swimming championship
in Belgrade
, former Yugoslavia, DeMont became the first man to swim the 400m freestyle in under 4 minutes (3.58,18).
The International Olympic Committee
stripped DeMont of his gold medal after he tested positive for a banned substance contained in his asthma medication. The positive test following the 400 also deprived DeMont of a chance at multiple medals, as he was not permitted to swim in any other events at the Games, including the 1500 freestyle for which he was the then current world record holder.
In 2001 the US Olympic Committee admitted that it had mishandled DeMont's medical information at the 1972 Olympics and appealed to the IOC to reinstate the medal. The IOC refused to offer any official acknowledgment of DeMont's innocence and achievement.
As of 2009, DeMont is an associate head coach at the University of Arizona
. He was an assistant coach for the South African men’s swim team at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens
, Greece and the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing
, China.
Considered a world-renowned sprint freestyle coach, DeMont has been the subject of feature stories and up-and-coming swimming technique articles in numerous publications including Swimming World, Swim Technique and Splash magazines. In the late 1980s, DeMont was inducted into the World Swimming Hall of Fame. During his tenure with the University of Arizona program, he has coached 21 U.S. Swimming and NCAA individual national champions, as well as numerous national champion relay squads. In September 1999, DeMont was inducted into the University of Arizona Athletic Hall of Fame.
DeMont is also an artist whose paintings have been shown in local and national galleries. Some of his work can be seen on the walls of offices in Arizona's athletics department.
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...
. A graduate in 1973 of Terra Linda High School
Terra Linda High School
Terra Linda High School is a public secondary school located in Terra Linda, San Rafael, California, United States...
, he was a member of the US Olympic team and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle. In 1973, at First swimming championship
1973 World Aquatics Championships
The first FINA World Championships in Aquatics were held in the Tašmajdan Sports Centre in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, from August 31 to September 9, 1973.-Medal table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen- Synchronised swimming :Women...
in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, former Yugoslavia, DeMont became the first man to swim the 400m freestyle in under 4 minutes (3.58,18).
The International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
stripped DeMont of his gold medal after he tested positive for a banned substance contained in his asthma medication. The positive test following the 400 also deprived DeMont of a chance at multiple medals, as he was not permitted to swim in any other events at the Games, including the 1500 freestyle for which he was the then current world record holder.
In 2001 the US Olympic Committee admitted that it had mishandled DeMont's medical information at the 1972 Olympics and appealed to the IOC to reinstate the medal. The IOC refused to offer any official acknowledgment of DeMont's innocence and achievement.
As of 2009, DeMont is an associate head coach at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. He was an assistant coach for the South African men’s swim team at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece and the 2008 Olympic games 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...
, China.
Considered a world-renowned sprint freestyle coach, DeMont has been the subject of feature stories and up-and-coming swimming technique articles in numerous publications including Swimming World, Swim Technique and Splash magazines. In the late 1980s, DeMont was inducted into the World Swimming Hall of Fame. During his tenure with the University of Arizona program, he has coached 21 U.S. Swimming and NCAA individual national champions, as well as numerous national champion relay squads. In September 1999, DeMont was inducted into the University of Arizona Athletic Hall of Fame.
DeMont is also an artist whose paintings have been shown in local and national galleries. Some of his work can be seen on the walls of offices in Arizona's athletics department.