Edward Arnold "Ted" Stickles (born April 7, 1942) is an American former competition swimmer and former world record-holder who competed for Indiana University. A highly skilled competitor in all four strokes, he was the first swimmer to go under two minutes for the 200 Individual Medley.
Stickles was born April 7, 1942, in San Francisco. He attended and competed in swimming for nearby San Mateo's Hillsdale High, where he was voted Most Valuable Player all four years, and at one time held every varsity swimming record at the school. As a Junior in July 1959 at the National AAU Outdoor Swimming Championship in Los Altos he placed second in the 200-meter Individual Medley with an AAU record time of 2:26.7. In August, 1959, at the Redwood City AAU Championships, Stickles came within .5 seconds of breaking the American record in the 200-yard Individual Medley with his time of 2:08.1, which broke the Pacific Association record. In club competition, Stickles swam for the San Mateo Marlins.[1][2]
Indiana University
Stickles swam with James Counsilman's Indiana University team from 1962 to 1965, and as a three-time All American earned Varsity letters in 1962, 1963, and 1964. Between the years 1962-1964, he captured five championships in Big Ten competition in the 200 and 400 Individual Medley events. In National AAU championships in both the 200 and 400 Individual Medley, he won six championships. In the 200 and 400 Individual Medley, he held both American and World records. At one point during his career, he and his roommate, Chet Jastremski, held a total of seven world records. Stickles broke a total of nine world records in the individual medley in the early 1960s.[3][4]
Records
Four world records – 400m individual medley
Eight U.S. National AAU Championships – 200 m individual medley, 400m individual medley
After graduating Indiana in 1965, Stickles coached the Libya, North Africa National Swimming team, and then served for one year as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Indiana University.[2]
In August, 1972, Athletic Director Carl Maddox named Stickles as the new Head coach of the LSU Tigers where he served from 1973–1980 and later coached the LSU Lady Tigers in 1980. In a long, and arduous selection process, Director Maddox believed he had found an outstanding coach, who would best served the University. Stickles replaced Dr. Ivan Harless, who had served as coach two years. Stickles later worked as a managing Director for all athletic events at Louisiana State.[6][7][2]
Personal life
Stickles now resides in Louisiana with wife and two children. His sister Terri is a former Olympic swimmer. Ted developed tendinitis in his elbow and consequently missed the 1964 Olympics – otherwise Ted and Terri would have been the first brother and sister to make an Olympic team.[3]
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