Benjamin Schulte

Benjamin Anthony Aguon Schulte (born December 22, 1995) is a Guamanian swimmer. Schulte entered the international stage at 15 years old when he won a silver medal at the 2011 Pacific Games held in New Caledonia. At the 2014 Micronesian Games, Schulte was awarded medals in all 11 of his events, nine of them gold, earning him the nickname 'Micro Phelps'. At the 2015 Pacific Games, he won gold in the 200m and 400m medley, silver in the 100m breaststroke, setting a Games record in the heats that was later broken by the gold medalist in the final, and bronze in the 200m breaststroke. At the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships, Schulte earned a gold and a silver medal.

Benjamin Schulte
Personal information
Nationality Guam
Born (1995-12-22) December 22, 1995
Tamuning, Guam
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Weight83 kg (183 lb)[1]
Sport
SportSwimming
Event(s)Breaststroke, individual medley
ClubSomerset Swim Club, Bryant University Bulldogs
Coached byGraeme McDonald, Katie Cameron
Medal record
Men's Swimming
Representing  Guam
Pacific Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Port Moresby 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2015 Port Moresby 400 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2011 Nouméa 1500 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2015 Port Moresby 100 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place 2019 Apia 50 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Port Moresby 200 m breaststroke
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Suva 50 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place 2016 Suva 100 m breaststroke

He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 10 kilometer Open Water event at only 16 years old. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he competed for Guam in the 100 meter breaststroke, placing 43rd in the preliminary heats which did not qualify him for the semifinals. He was the flag bearer for Guam during the Parade of Nations.

Early life and education

Benjamin Schulte was born in the Guamanian city of Tamuning on December 22, 1995.[1] He studied business at Bryant University.[2]

Schulte was taught to swim at the age of five.[3] His family moved to Australia when he was 14 so he could better pursue his Olympic career. He attended Miami State High School in Queensland's Gold Coast.[4]

Olympic career

Schulte competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London at the age of 16.[1] He discovered he had a chance to qualify for the Olympics in 2011, so he competed in a qualifying event. He failed to qualify, but a New Zealand swimmer declined a spot that was reserved for an Oceania swimmer, which he learned a month prior to the Olympics. He practiced by swimming for 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) ten times per week, going to the gym, and taking yoga classes. He finished the 10 km race with a time of 2:03:35, 14 minutes behind the winner. He was determined to finish, saying, "My goal was just to finish. Just being here, being given the opportunity to be here. I didn't want to let down my friends and family back home by not finishing."[3] For his determination, Schulte was nominated for the Open Water Swimming Association's Swimming Man of the Year award in 2012, to which he was runner-up.[5]

Following the 2012 Summer Olympics, Schulte decided to refocus and switch from long distance swimming to short distance. He said, "I like the competition, but I don't like the training."[6]

Schulte competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Guamanian National Olympic Committee (NOC) president Ricardo Blas told Schulte, "You deserve the opportunity and right to carry the flag and lead Guam into the Olympic Games".[7] Schulte broke his own national record during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, finishing the 100 meter breaststroke with a time of 1:03.29.[7]

He had planned to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the men's 100 meter breaststroke.[7]

International career

Schulte started his international career with the 2011 Pacific Games, where he earned a silver medal in the men's 1500 meter freestyle.[8] Schulte also competed in the 400 meter freestyle; 50 and 100 meter breaststroke; 400 meter individual medley; 400 meter freestyle relay; and 400 meter medley relay.[9]

Schulte set the Pacific Games and a Guamanian national record for the 100 meter breaststroke in the first heat of the 2015 Pacific Games with a time of 1:03.42. In the finals, he finished second and earned a silver medal. The winner of the race, Amini Fonua, broke the Pacific Games record he set six hours prior.[7][10] He also earned two gold and one bronze medal, winning the most medals for Guam at the Games.[5]

During the 2016 Oceania Championships, Schulte swam in the 50 and 100 meter breaststroke. In the 100 meter, he won the preliminary round, but finished second in the finals with a time of 1:03.46, earning a silver medal.[11] For the 50 meter breaststroke, he finished second in the preliminary round; however, he edged out New Zealand swimmer Jacob Garrod with a time of 29.26 seconds to win the gold medal.[12]

In the 2014 Micronesian Games, Schulte performed well. He earned a gold medal in 9 out of the 11 events he participated in, and was given the nickname "Micro Phelps".[11] Schulte earned gold in the 50, 100, and 200 meter breaststroke; 4 × 100 freestyle relay; 4 × 50 medley relay; 1,500 freestyle; 200 and 400 meter individual medley; and 4 × 100 medley relay. He won a silver medal in the 100 meter butterfly and the 100 meter freestyle.[13][14][15]

References
  1. "Benjamin Schulte Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  2. Engichy, Kasmira (August 18, 2017). "Ben Schulte still swimming one year after 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics". Journal and Courier. Pacific Daily News. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. Liden, Julian (August 10, 2012). "Teenager puts tiny Guam on swimming map". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  4. Wieman, Grant (July 24, 2014). "Dominant Schulte is 'Micro Phelps'". Pacific Daily News. p. A36 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Swimmer: 'I'm there to do my absolute best'". Pacific Daily News. August 5, 2016. p. A46 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Wieman, Grant (July 24, 2014). "Dominant Schulte is 'Micro Phelps'". Pacific Daily News. p. A34 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Sablan, Jerick (August 7, 2016). "Schulte breaks Guam national record in Rio". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  8. "Swimmer Schulte Wins Silver". Pacific Daily News. September 2, 2011. p. A48. Retrieved March 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Games: Guam Swimmers Ready for Competition". Pacific Daily News. August 25, 2011. p. A31 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Garrido, A. T. (July 6, 2015). "Ben Schulte swims to silver at Pacific Games". USA Today. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  11. Sablan, Jerick (June 22, 2016). "Schulte wins silver at Oceania Championships". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  12. Sablan, Jerick (June 23, 2016). "Schulte wins gold medal at Oceania Championships". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  13. Wieman, Grant (July 23, 2014). "Schulte's Medal Total Reaches 10". Pacific Daily News – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Wieman, Grant (July 22, 2014). "Swimmers medal on first day". Pacific Daily News. p. A32 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Micro:Stephens finishes with 11 gold medals". Pacific Daily News. July 25, 2014. p. A45 – via Newspapers.com.
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