Phelps, Vanderkaay Headline U-M Performances in Beijing
8/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Olympics
BEIJING, China -- Former University of Michigan volunteer men's swimming coach Michael Phelps and Wolverine alumnus Peter Vanderkaay (2003-06) headlined a strong performance for U-M men's swimmers at the 2008 Olympic Games. Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals, and Vanderkaay earned both a gold and a bronze.
Phelps, who swam 17 total races in Beijing, set seven new world records and one Olympic record en route to his eight gold medals. Individually, Phelps broke world records in the 400-meter individual medley (4:03.84), 200m freestyle (1:42.96), 200m butterfly (1:52.03) and 200m individual medley (1:54.23). His three other world records came as part of U.S. relays in the 4x100m freestyle relay (3:08.24), 4x200m freestyle relay (6:58.56) and 4x100m medley relay (3:29.34). Phelps' only non-world record setting performance came in the 100m butterfly, in which he set a new Olympic record (50.58). Phelps has now won 14 Olympic gold medals in his career and 16 Olympic medals overall.
Vanderkaay won his second career Olympic gold as a member of the U.S. relay in the 4x200m freestyle that included Phelps. His first career gold also came in the 4x200m freestyle relay four years ago in Athens. Prior to winning his second career relay gold, Vanderkaay earned his first individual Olympic medal when he took bronze in the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:45.14.
Michigan junior Alon Mandel (Netanya, Israel/Eldad) and alumnus Andrew Hurd (2002-05) also competed in Beijing. Mandel, a first-time Olympian competing for Israel, swam a personal-best time of 1:59.27 in the 200m butterfly, finishing 28th. Hurd, competing in his third Olympics for Canada, swam the anchor leg in the 4x200m freestyle relay, helping the Canadian quartet to a fifth-place finish with a time of 7:05.77. Scott Spann, a two-time U-M letterwinner (2007-08), rounded out the contingent with a sixth-place finish in the 200m breaststroke.
Players Mentioned
