George Gleason

George Gleason (born August 8, 1979) is a former swimmer from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who specialized in freestyle and backstroke events.[1] He is a two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004), a swimming captain for the Yale Bulldogs, and a graduate of sociology (2001) at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.[2] Gleason also capped his swimming career by an eleventh-place finish in the 200 m backstroke at the NCAA Swimming Championships in College Station, Texas, earning him All-American honors.[3]

For the politician, see George Gleason (politician).
George Gleason
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Gleason
National team Virgin Islands
Born (1979-08-08) 8 August 1979
Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, backstroke
ClubSt. Croix Dolphins
College teamYale University (U.S.)
CoachFrank Keefe (U.S.)

Career

Gleason made his official debut, as U.S. Virgin Islands' only swimmer, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He failed to advance into the semifinals in any of his individual events, placing thirty-ninth in the 200 m freestyle (1:54.64) and forty-second each in the 100 m freestyle (52.00) and 200 m individual medley (2:08.25).[4][5][6]

At the 2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Moscow, Gleason tackled an extended program of five swimming events, highlighted by a 16th-place finish in the 200 metre freestyle (1:47.69) where he challenged 8 other swimmers in heat 7, including Olympic medalist George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago, who out-touched Gleason by 0.03 seconds. Gleason also competed in the 200 metre backstroke (19th overall, 1:58.18), 100 metre individual medley (21st overall, 56.24), 200 metre individual medley (28th overall, 2:02.29), and 50 metre freestyle (37th overall, 23.19).[7]

In the summer of 2003, Gleason competed in the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he raced to FINA Olympic B-standard entry times of 51.64 (100 m freestyle) and 57.13 (100 m backstroke). His eighth-place effort in the 100 m backstroke marked his highest result at a major international competition. Gleason also helped the freestyle relay teams (both 100 and 200 m) for the Virgin Islands to sixth-place finishes.[8]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Gleason shortened his program by qualifying for two swimming events. He achieved FINA B-standard entry times of 51.64 (100 m freestyle) and 57.13 (100 m backstroke) from the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[9][10]

In the 100 m backstroke, Gleason challenged seven other swimmers in heat two, including Olympic veteran Nicholas Neckles of Barbados. He raced to fifth place and thirty-seventh overall by 0.07 of a second behind Finland's Matti Mäki, outside his entry time of 57.64.[11][12] In his second event, 100 m freestyle, Gleason placed forty-fourth overall out of 71 swimmers from the morning's preliminaries. He raced to sixth place in heat four at 51.69, just 0.05 of a second off his entry time from the Pan American Games.[13][14]

References
  1. "George Gleason". 23 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  2. "Athlete of the Week: George Gleason". The Yale Herald. 28 January 2000. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  3. Vaccaro, Ron (28 March 2001). "Gleason takes 11th at NCAA championships". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 100m Freestyle Heat 5" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 114. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  5. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 200m Freestyle Heat 2" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 124. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  6. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 200m Individual Medley Heat 1" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 307. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  7. "2002 Short Course Worlds Overall Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  8. "2003 Pan American Games Swimming Results". USA Swimming. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  9. "Swimming – Men's 100m Freestyle Startlist (Heat 4)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  10. "Swimming – Men's 100m Backstroke Startlist (Heat 2)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  11. "Men's 100m Backstroke Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  12. Thomas, Stephen (15 August 2004). "Men's 100 Backstroke Prelims: Japan's Morita Surprises with Fastest Time; Americans Cruise Through". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  13. "Men's 100m Freestyle Heat 4". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  14. Thomas, Stephen (18 August 2004). "Men's 100 Freestyle Prelims Day 4: Lezak, Crocker Fail to Qualify. Hoogie Best with 48.70". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
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