Ian Lowell Crocker(born August 31, 1982) is an American former competition swimmer, five-time Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder. During his career, he setworld recordsin the 50- and 100-meter butterfly (long course and short course) and the 100-meter freestyle (short course). He has won a total of twenty-one medals in major international competition, spanning the Olympics, theFINA World Aquatics Championships,and thePan Pacific Swimming Championships.He coached for many years at the Western Hills Athletic Club and has helped coach the Longhorns swim camp in 2019 as well as other years. Since Spring of 2022 when the new facility opened, Crocker coaches at the Western Aquatics and Social Club at the Eanes Independent School District Aquatics center.[1]
Career
editCrocker, who specializes in thebutterfly,has received five Olympic medals in his career. In addition to his accomplishments at the Olympics, Crocker was the first man to ever swim under 51 seconds in the 100-meter butterfly.[2]Crocker improved his world record of 50.98 twice, down to a time of 50.40[3]set at the2005 World Aquatics Championshipsin Montreal, before being bested byMichael Phelpsin 2009.
2000-2001
editAt the2000 Summer Olympicsin Sydney, Crocker was a member of the gold medal-winning 4x100-meter medley relay team[4]and barely missed winning a bronze in the 100-meter butterfly.[5]
At the2001 World Aquatics Championships,Crocker won a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing behindLars Frölander.[6][7]
2003 World Aquatics Championships
editAt the2003 World Aquatics Championships,Crocker won a total of three medals, two golds and one silver medal. In his first event, the 50-meter butterfly, Crocker won a silver medal finishing behind AustralianMatt Welsh,who set the world record.[8]Crocker is best known in these Championships for his world record performance in the 100 m butterfly final. After the semi-finals of the 100-meter butterfly, it seemed Crocker was out of the gold medal position afterAndrii SerdinovandMichael Phelpswent under the former world record. However, in the final of the 100-meter butterfly, Crocker swam a 50.98 to become the first man under 51 seconds and win the gold medal.[9]When Crocker saw the time after the race, he thought the world record belonged to Phelps.[10]Crocker earned his final medal, a gold, in the 4×100-meter medley relay. The American team recorded a time of 3:31.54 to beat the former world record set in 2002.[11]
2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games
editAt the2004 Summer Olympicsin Athens, Crocker received a bronze medal as a member of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team,[12]a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly,[13]and a gold medal as a member of the world-record setting 4x100-meter medley relay team.[14]Of the three medals he won at the 2004 Olympics, he is best remembered for his silver, as teammateMichael Phelpsovertook him at the very end of the 100-meter butterfly to win the race by 0.04 seconds. Traditionally, the Olympian who places highest in an individual event will be automatically given the corresponding leg of the 4×100-meter medley relay for the finals swim. This gave Phelps an automatic entry into finals for the medley relay but he deferred that spot to the world record-holder and swam the butterfly leg in preliminary heats instead.[15]Crocker had swum a slow leg leading off the 4×100-meter freestyle relay final, which may have cost the Americans a better medal, so Phelps' gesture gave Crocker a chance to make amends in a final. Crocker and the American medley team went on to win the event in world record time. (Phelps still received a gold, since he had swum in the preliminary heat of the medley relay.)
2005 World Aquatics Championships
edit
At the2005 World Aquatics Championships,Crocker won a total of three medals, two golds and one silver medal. In his first event, the 50 m butterfly, Crocker won a silver medal finishing behind South AfricanRoland Schoeman,who set the world record.[16]In the final of the 100 m butterfly, Crocker recorded a time of 50.40 to beat his own world record of 50.76 and win the gold medal.[17]Crocker also handed Michael Phelps one of the worst losses in his career when Phelps finished over a second behind. With this win, Crocker was awarded a spot in the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Crocker did not disappoint and swam the butterfly leg in 50.39. The American team went on to win the gold medal.[18]
2007 World Aquatics Championships
editAt the2007 World Aquatics Championships,Crocker won two silver medals. In the 50-meter butterfly, Crocker won a silver medal finishing behind Schoeman.[19]In the 100 m butterfly final, Crocker finished second to Phelps 50.82 to 50.77.[20][21]In the heats of the 4×100-meter medley relay, Crocker dove in too early on an exchange, causing the disqualification of the American team.
2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games
editCrocker competed in his third Olympics as a medal contender for his signature 100-meter butterfly. Many felt Crocker's career was on a slide due to a poor showing in the Olympic trials and having not broken the 51-second barrier in over 12 months. Crocker finished in a tie for third in the semi-finals, behind Australia'sAndrew Lauterstein.In the finals, he finished fourth behind teammate Phelps,Milorad Čavić,and Lauterstein, beating Kenyan swimmerJason Dunford.He missed the medal stand by one hundredth of a second.[22]Despite not earning a medal in his signature event, Crocker was given the opportunity to swim for the 4×100-meter medley relay in the preliminary heats. He earned a gold medal for his contribution.
2011 return to drug testing pool
editIn the third quarter of 2011, Ian Crocker returned to theUSADAdrug-testing pool. This fueled speculation that he might be considering a return to competitive swimming after more than three years away from the sport.[23]
Personal
editCrocker attendedCheverus High SchoolinPortland, Maine.[24]
Following the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, he has taken a break and started a swim school with former Longhorn teammateNeil Walker.
He is now the head coach for a swim club in Austin, Texas, called the Whitecaps of Westlake (WOW).
See also
edit
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
- List of University of Texas at Austin alumni
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
- World record progression 50 metres butterfly
- World record progression 100 metres freestyle
- World record progression 100 metres butterfly
- World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
References
edit- ^Ian Crocker - Team USA
- ^Christopher Clarey (July 28, 2003)."Crocker beats the unbeatable".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon October 15, 2014.RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^Amy Shipley (July 31, 2005)."Crocker Rips Phelps in 100 Fly".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^"ESPN Sydney Swimming".RetrievedMarch 13,2009.
- ^"CROCKER BREAKS U.S. MARK WITH 4TH-PLACE FINISH".RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^Brown, Phil (July 27, 2001)."Ian Crocker second in 100m butterfly American Hansen wins 200 breaststroke".Bangor Daily News.Archived fromthe originalon June 4, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.
- ^"SILVER STILL A CHARM".RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.
- ^"Men's 50m Butterfly results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on June 9, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.
- ^"Men's 100m Butterfly results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on April 7, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.
- ^"A Barcelona Butterfly Surprise; Crocker Sets World Record, Edges Phelps".Archived fromthe originalon March 9, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.
- ^"Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay results"(PDF).RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Tough day for Phelps, U.S. men's basketball".The Seattle Times.RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^"Phelps clinches fifth gold medal".The Hindu.Chennai, India. August 21, 2004. Archived fromthe originalon August 24, 2004.RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^"2004 Olympic Games swimming results".CNN.Archived fromthe originalon August 14, 2004.RetrievedJuly 22,2007.
- ^Myslenski, Skip (August 21, 2004)."Phelps a champion and a gentleman; Butterfly winner hands relay spot to U.S. teammate".Chicago Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2012.RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^"Men's 50 m butterfly results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on April 7, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 31,2010.
- ^"Men's 100 m butterfly results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on April 7, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 31,2010.
- ^"Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on June 1, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 31,2010.
- ^"Men's 50 m butterfly results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 4, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 6,2010.
- ^"Men's 100 m butterfly results"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 4, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 6,2010.
- ^Clarey, Christopher (April 1, 2007)."Phelps's Shot at 8 Golds Ends on Relay Team's Miscue".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 6,2010.
- ^"Maine's Ian Crocker out of the medals in 100-meter butterfly".The Boston Globe.August 16, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon August 20, 2008.RetrievedJuly 16,2009.
- ^"Breaking: Ian Crocker Back in USADA Drug Testing Pool".The Swimmers' Circle.December 9, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon January 6, 2012.RetrievedDecember 9,2011.
- ^Mahoney, Larry (January 1, 2001)."Ian Crocker's gold medal is top sports story of year Portland native beats out UMaine hockey, Bordick".Bangor Daily News.RetrievedApril 1,2020.
