Tim Shaw (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
Timothy Andrew Shaw is a former Olympic medal-winning swimmer
and water polo
player from the United States. He swam at the 1976 Summer Olympics
and played on the USA's team at the 1984 Games
. He is one of a handful of athletes to win Olympic medals in two different sports.
He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
magazine on August 4, 1975, after receiving the FINA Prize Eminence Award in 1974, representative of the greatest contribution to world aquatics; being named World Swimmer of the Year for two years running, 1974 & 1975; and winning the Sullivan Award
in 1975 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
Because of his Sports Illustrated appearance, some speculate that he was another victim of the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
. In the 1976 Olympics the following summer, he could manage only a Silver medal in the 400m freestyle; he was completely shut out of his signature event, the 1500m freestyle. He could not compete four years later when the US led the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott in Moscow, Russia. Shaw further was a member of the 1984 US water polo team that was undefeated in Olympic competition but was awarded the Silver Medal because the Yugoslav team, with an identical record, scored four more goals overall.
Between 1974 and 1984, Shaw won 2 Olympic silver medals; 3 World Championships; 7 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles; and 3 U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships.
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 water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
player from the United States. He swam at the 1976 Summer Olympics
United States at the 1976 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. 396 competitors, 278 men and 118 women, took part in 189 events in 19 sports.-Medalists:...
and played on the USA's team at the 1984 Games
United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
. He is one of a handful of athletes to win Olympic medals in two different sports.
He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine on August 4, 1975, after receiving the FINA Prize Eminence Award in 1974, representative of the greatest contribution to world aquatics; being named World Swimmer of the Year for two years running, 1974 & 1975; and winning the Sullivan Award
Sullivan Award
Sullivan Award may refer to:* Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award or Mary Mildred Sullivan Award; awarded at 29-grantee institutions of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation...
in 1975 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
Because of his Sports Illustrated appearance, some speculate that he was another victim of the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
The Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx is an urban legend that states that individuals or teams who appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine will subsequently be jinxed...
. In the 1976 Olympics the following summer, he could manage only a Silver medal in the 400m freestyle; he was completely shut out of his signature event, the 1500m freestyle. He could not compete four years later when the US led the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott in Moscow, Russia. Shaw further was a member of the 1984 US water polo team that was undefeated in Olympic competition but was awarded the Silver Medal because the Yugoslav team, with an identical record, scored four more goals overall.
Between 1974 and 1984, Shaw won 2 Olympic silver medals; 3 World Championships; 7 National U.S. Amateur Athletic Union titles; and 3 U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships.
See also
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
- List of swimmers
- Athletics at Long Beach State University