Tom Dolan
Encyclopedia
Tom Dolan is a swimmer from the United States, who won a gold medal and silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics
and a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
. He swam for the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor, under the guidance of coach Jon Urbanchek
, just like two of his main rivals Eric Namesnik
and Marcel Wouda
.
Dolan grew up swimming for Rick Curl and the Curl-Burke Swim Club, along with Washington Golf & Country Club during the summer. Dolan held the world record
in the 400 m individual medley longer than any other swimmer in history (eight years), including Tamás Darnyi
, Alex Baumann
, Jesse Vassallo
, Charles Hickcox
, Dick Roth and Ted Stickles
. He is the third swimmer to win successive 400 m I.M. Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2000), along with Hungary's Darnyi and Michael Phelps
.
At 6'7" tall and 3% body fat, shoe-size 14, Dolan was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma
and a narrowed windpipe, which would side-line the normal person. He only trained harder and exhaustion, dizziness and occasional blackouts never stopped him from swimming. Coached by Rick Curl and later Urbancheck, Dolan also set two world records, won two gold medals in World Championship swimming, won nine NCAA National Championships and fourteen U.S. National Championships. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
(ISHOF) in 2006. Tom is currently working with Carlile Swimming in Australia to help bring their swim school model to the US.
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. He swam for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor, under the guidance of coach Jon Urbanchek
Jon Urbanchek
Jon Urbanchek is an American swimming coach, best known for his 22-year tenure as the Men's Swimming & Diving Head Coach for the University of Michigan...
, just like two of his main rivals Eric Namesnik
Eric Namesnik
Eric John Namesnik was an Olympic swimmer for the United States.-Biography:He was born and raised in the town of Butler, Pennsylvania. Namesnik won silver medals in the 400-meter individual medley at both the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics...
and Marcel Wouda
Marcel Wouda
Marcel Reinier Wouda is a former Dutch swimmer, who became Holland's first world champion when he won the world title in the 200 m individual medley at the FINA 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth, Australia...
.
Dolan grew up swimming for Rick Curl and the Curl-Burke Swim Club, along with Washington Golf & Country Club during the summer. Dolan held the world record
World record progression 400 metres medley
The first world record in the 400 metres individual medley in long course swimming was recognized by the International Swimming Federation in 1957, followed by the women a year later...
in the 400 m individual medley longer than any other swimmer in history (eight years), including Tamás Darnyi
Tamás Darnyi
Tamás Darnyi is a Hungarian retired male swimmer. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest medley swimmers in history. He won four gold medals at two Olympic Games and was unbeaten in the individual medley events from 1985 until his retirement in 1993...
, Alex Baumann
Alex Baumann
Alexander "Sasha" Baumann, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian athlete, who won two gold medals and set two world records in swimming at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.Born in Prague , Baumann...
, Jesse Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo , is a Puerto Rican Olympic and World Record holding swimmer. He swam in international competitions for the United States and qualified for two-Olympic teams: 1980 and 1984. In 1997, he became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame...
, Charles Hickcox
Charles Hickcox
Charles Buchanan Hickcox was an American swimmer who won four medals at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He won gold in both the 200 and 400 Individual Medleys , gold as part of the world record setting U.S...
, Dick Roth and Ted Stickles
Edward Stickles
Edward "Ted" Stickles was an American swimmer. He set many swimming records and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995. He was inducted into the Indiana University Hall of Fame in 1998.Stickles swam with Doc Councilman's Indiana University swim team from 1962 to 1965...
. He is the third swimmer to win successive 400 m I.M. Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2000), along with Hungary's Darnyi and 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...
.
At 6'7" tall and 3% body fat, shoe-size 14, Dolan was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma
Exercise-induced asthma
Exercise-induced asthma, or E.I.A., is a medical condition characterized by shortness of breath induced by sustained aerobic exercise. It shares many features with other types of asthma, and responds to some typical asthma medications, but does not appear to be caused by the same inflammatory...
and a narrowed windpipe, which would side-line the normal person. He only trained harder and exhaustion, dizziness and occasional blackouts never stopped him from swimming. Coached by Rick Curl and later Urbancheck, Dolan also set two world records, won two gold medals in World Championship swimming, won nine NCAA National Championships and fourteen U.S. National Championships. 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...
(ISHOF) in 2006. Tom is currently working with Carlile Swimming in Australia to help bring their swim school model to the US.