Brad Bridgewater

Last updated
Brad Bridgewater
Personal information
Full nameBradley Michael Bridgewater
National teamUnited States
Born (1973-03-29) March 29, 1973 (age 50)
Charleston, West Virginia
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Backstroke
ClubTrojan Swim Club
College team University of Texas
University of Southern California
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1996 Atlanta 200 m backstroke
World Championships (SC)
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2000 Athens 200 m backstroke
Pan Pacific Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1997 Fukuoka 200 m backstroke
Pan American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Mar del Plata 200 m backstroke

Bradley Michael Bridgewater (born March 29, 1973) is an American former competition swimmer who won the gold medal in the men's 200-meter backstroke at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Bridgewater attended Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida, and was coached by 1972 Olympic gold medalist Fred Tyler. In college, he swam for the Texas Longhorns swimming and diving team of the University of Texas from 1992 to 1994, then transferred to the University of Southern California (USC). Under Trojans coach Mark Schubert, Bridgewater earned 1995 and 1996 All-America honors in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Bridgewater won the gold medal in men's 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:58.54, beating fellow American and rival Tripp Schwenk by .45 seconds.

Bridgewater currently serves as vice-president for Dallas, Texas investment management firm PHH Investments.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowdy Gaines</span> American swimmer

Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines IV is an American former competitive swimmer, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He is a swimming analyst for television network NBC. He has covered swimming at the Olympic Games since 1992 in Barcelona.

Jesús David "Jesse" Vassallo Anadón is a former competition swimmer and world record-holder in the 200 and 400 individual medley, who participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics for the United States. In 1997, he became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He was somewhat unique in the scale of his achievements as a swimmer, and in a tribute to his World Records in 1978 was voted Swimming World Magazine's "Male Swimmer of the Year". From 2004 to 2009, he served as the president of the Puerto Rican National Swimming Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Caulkins</span> American swimmer

Tracy Anne Stockwell, OAM,, née Tracy Anne Caulkins, is an American former competition swimmer, three-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time world champion, and former world record-holder in three events.

Neil Scott Walker is an American former competition swimmer, four-time Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in multiple events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Naber</span> American swimmer

John Phillips Naber is an American former competitive swimmer, five-time Olympic medalist and former world record-holder in multiple events.

Jeffrey Norman Rouse is an American former competition swimmer, three-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in three events.

Richard John Carey is an American former competition swimmer, three-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in three events. Carey 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 Swimmer of the Year in 1983 by Swimming World magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Tyler</span> American swimmer and coach

Frederick Daniel Tyler is an American competitive swimmer and aquatics coach, winner of several high school and college championships and a gold medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics and author.

Jon C. Olsen is an American former competition swimmer, four-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder. Olsen was a successful relay swimmer for the U.S. national team in the late 1980s and 1990s. He has won a total of 27 medals in major international competition, 20 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, Pan Pacific, and the Pan American championships.

Martín López-Zubero Purcell, also known as Martin Zubero, is a former competition swimmer and Olympic gold medalist. López-Zubero was born in the United States, swam in international competition for Spain, and holds dual Spanish-American citizenship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre backstroke</span>

The men's 200 metre backstroke event at the 1996 Summer Olympics took place on 26 July at the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center in Atlanta, United States. There were 39 competitors from 33 nations. Each nation had been limited to two swimmers in the event since 1984. The event was won by Brad Bridgewater of the United States, with his countryman Tripp Schwenk taking silver. It was the first time since 1980 that one nation had two swimmers on the podium in the event. Bridgewater's victory was the United States' first in the event since 1984 and fourth overall. Italy earned its second consecutive bronze medal in the men's 200 metre backstroke, with Emanuele Merisi taking the honours this time.

Whitney Lynn Hedgepeth is an American former competition swimmer who won a gold and two silver medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

William Douglas "Tripp" Schwenk III is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.

Theresa Andrews is an American former competitive swimmer and Olympic champion. Raised in Maryland, Andrews gained prominence as a national collegiate champion when competing for the University of Florida. In international competition, she was a backstroke specialist who won two gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Russell (swimmer)</span> American swimmer

Douglas Albert Russell is an American former competitive swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in three different events.

Troy Lane Dalbey is an American former competition swimmer, two-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder.

Lawrence Bruce Hayes is an American former competition swimmer best known for anchoring the U.S. men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Float</span> American swimmer

Jeffrey James Float is a former American competitive swimmer, world record holder, world champion and Olympic gold medalist. He qualified for the 1980 USA Olympic Swimming Team in three individual events, but could not participate when the United States boycotted the Moscow 1980 Summer Olympic Games. Four years later, he competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. As the peer-elected team captain, Jeff earned a gold medal in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay, and finished fourth in the individual 200-meter freestyle event. In 2016 this 4x200-meter freestyle relay was designated the third greatest of all time.

Betsy Mitchell is an American competition swimmer who was a world record-holder, world champion, and Olympic gold and silver medalist. She also was a member of the United States' 1994 Rowing World Championship team.

Mitchell Ivey is a former American international swimmer who was a backstroke specialist and Olympic medalist. Ivey later became a prominent Olympic and college swimming coach.

References