Jerry Heidenreich

Jerome Alan Heidenreich (February 4, 1950 – April 18, 2002) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, where he received gold medals in the 4×100-meter medley relay, and 4×100-meter freestyle relay.[2] He received a silver medal in 100-meter freestyle, and a bronze medal in 100-meter butterfly.

Jerry Heidenreich
Heidenreich (right) and Mark Spitz at the 1972 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameJerome Alan Heidenreich
Nickname(s)"Jerry", "The Poet"
National teamUnited States
Born(1950-02-04)February 4, 1950
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.[1]
DiedApril 18, 2002(2002-04-18) (aged 52)
Paris, Texas, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight161 lb (73 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly, freestyle
College teamSouthern Methodist University
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich 100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Munich 100 m butterfly
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1971 Cali 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1971 Cali 4×200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1971 Cali 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1971 Cali 100 m butterfly
Universiade
Silver medal – second place 1970 Turin 100 m butterfly

He set six world records during his swimming career, all as a relay team member.

Education

He swam for Hillcrest High School in Dallas, and then attended Southern Methodist University where he broke nearly all of the college's freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley records. He was an All American four times while at SMU, and won one NCAA title, eighteen individual Southwest Conference Titles, and set a new World Record in the 200 yard freestyle.[3]

He graduated from SMU in 1972 with a business degree.[4]

Coach

He became a swimming coach in the 1980s. He was a founder and Coach of the Academy of Texas Aquatic Champion Swim Club in Dallas, and coached at Hockaday a private Dallas girls' school. He also coached Master's Swimming at Ken Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.[3] He was married three times.[5] In July 2001, Heidenreich had a mild stroke which left him with a degree of paralysis on his left side. On April 18, 2002, he killed himself with an overdose of prescription medicine at his home in Paris, Texas.[5][6]

Heidenreich was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1992.[7]

See also

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jerry Heidenreich". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  2. "1972 Olympics – München, Germany – Swimming". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  3. Foreman, Mike, "Heidereich, right man at wrong time", Victoria Advocate, Victoria, Texas, pg. 11, 25 April 2002
  4. "Former Olympic Gold Medalist Dies", Victoria Advocate, Victoria, Texas, pg. 21, 24 April 2002
  5. Harvey, Randy (September 3, 2002). "Spitz Cast Shadow Over Heidenreich". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2002.
  6. Keller, Julia (May 17, 2002). "The descent of an Olympic champion". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  7. "Jerry Heidenreich (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
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