Tim Shaw (swimmer)

Timothy Andrew Shaw (born November 8, 1957) is an American former Olympic medal-winning swimmer and water polo player. He swam at the 1976 Summer Olympics and played on the American team at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He is one of a handful of athletes to win Olympic medals in two different sports. Between 1974 and 1984, Shaw won two Olympic silver medals; three world championships; seven U.S. Amateur Athletic Union national titles; and three U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association championships.[3]

Tim Shaw
Shaw in 1976
Personal information
Full nameTimothy Andrew Shaw
National teamUnited States
Born (1957-11-08) November 8, 1957
Long Beach, California, U.S.[1]
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1]
Weight148 lb (67 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, water polo
College teamCalifornia State University, Long Beach
CoachDick Jochums[2]

In 1974 in space of four days Shaw broke Mark Spitz's 200-meter freestyle world record, Rick DeMont's 400-meter freestyle world record and Stephen Holland's 1500-meter freestyle world record. At the 1976 Olympics he only won one silver medal, in the 400-meter freestyle; he was completely shut out of his signature event, the 1500-meter freestyle. Although he did not compete in the finals for the 4×200 metres freestyle relay, he did contribute to the swimming team in the preliminaries.[1]

After the 1976 Olympics Shaw changed from swimming to water polo, a sport favored by his father, who was a water polo coach.[3] Shaw missed the 1980 Olympics that were boycotted by the United States. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. 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.[1]

Shaw 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. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1974 and 1975, and won the Sullivan Award in 1975 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States after having won three gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships.[4] In 1989 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.[3]

Shaw married around 1985. As of 2003 he lived in Newport Beach, California, with wife Joanne and children Christina (aged 14), Jennifer (11), and Thomas (9).[2]

See also

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tim Shaw". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.
  2. Cazeneuve, Brian (December 8, 2003) Tim Shaw, Olympic Swimmer AUGUST 4, 1975. Sports Illustrated
  3. Tim Shaw (USA). International Swimming Hall of Fame
  4. Timothy Shaw – Past award winner profile at Sullivan Memorial Award
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