Chris Cavanaugh (swimmer)

Christopher Carl Cavanaugh (born July 1, 1962) is an American former competition swimmer, who swam for the University of Southern California, a former world record holder in the 50 meter freestyle and an Olympic champion.

Cavanaugh was born July 1, 1962, in Hialeah, Florida, and attended and swam for the Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, outside Miami, graduating around 1980. In March, 1977, as only a Freshman among all Dade County competitive swimmers, Cavanaugh placed third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:51.0, second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.3, third in the 100 butterfly with a 56.1, first in the 100 freestyle with a 48.9, and second in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:05.5. Cavanaugh was already showing his strength at the 100-yard distance, and excelled in the 50-yard distance as well. Cavanaugh was a member of the All Dade County team of the Miami Herald in May, 1977. In March, 1977, Cavanaugh set a national age group record in the 50-yard freestyle of 22.3. Among his early coaches with the Ransom Everglades School team was his father "Cav Cavanaugh". In his freshman year, Cavanaugh was made a member of the ''Miami Herald,s '' "All Dade County team" in May, 1977.

Qualifying for the Olympics in 1980, Cavanaugh was part of the U.S. Olympic team that led a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Prior to his gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, he was on a World Record 4x100 freestyle relay team at the World Championships in Guayaquil, Equador on August 5, 1983, where he swam the first leg in a time of 50.13. Provided by Wikipedia