Peter Vanderkaay
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| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Swimming | |||
Competitor for  United States |
|||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Gold | 2004 Athens[1] | 4x200m Freestyle | |
| World Championships - Long Course | |||
| Gold | 2005 Montreal[2] | 4x200m Freestyle | |
| Gold | 2007 Melbourne[3] | 4x200m Freestyle | |
| Summer Universiade | |||
| Silver | 2003 Daegu | 4x200m Freestyle | |
| Bronze | 2003 Daegu | 800m Freestyle | |
| Bronze | 2003 Daegu | 1500m Freestyle | |
| Pan Pacific Championships | |||
| Gold | 2006 Victoria | 4x200m Freestyle | |
Peter Vanderkaay (born February 12, 1984) is an American Freestyle swimmer, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Vanderkaay competed on the 4x200m freestyle relay team of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Klete Keller, that upset the favored Australian team of Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Michael Klim, and Nicholas Sprenger. The same American relay would go on to set an American Record in the same event at the FINA 2005 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada.
At the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Vanderkaay again helped the relay of Lochte, Phelps, Keller and himself set a World Record in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay, beating the second place Australian team by over 10 seconds. This American relay is undefeated over this distance since the Athens Games.
While primarily a mid-distance to distance freestyle swimmer, Vanderkaay is capable of swimming well in every freestyle distance from the 50 to the mile, as well as the 400 I.M. (Individual Medley). Vanderkaay is the current Michigan High School State and NCAA Record holder in the 500-yard freestyle (set in 2002 and 2006 respectively).
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[edit] High School
Vanderkaay is originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan and attended Rochester Adams High School. Vanderkaay is a two-time Michigan High School State Champion in the 500-yard freestyle (2001, 2002), and a one time state champion in the 200-yard freestyle (2001). He graduated in the class of 2002, and swam for the The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
[edit] College and Beyond
Vanderkaay has had much swimming success in his four years in Ann Arbor. He has developed into one of the prototypical mid-distance/distance freestyle swimmers, whom are so closely associated with the University of Michigan and retired head coach Jon Urbanchek. Vanderkaay joins the likes of previous Michigan and Club Wolverine Olympic medallists Tom Dolan, Keller, Chris Thompson, and Phelps.
He has a total of six NCAA Titles and 14 Big Ten Conference titles. He also won a silver and two bronze medals representing the US at the 2003 World University Games.
Freshman year he was Big Ten Champion in the 500-yard freestyle as well as the 800-yard freestyle relay. He also was NCAA All-American in the 500 and the mile.
By the end sophomore year he captured four more Big Ten Victories in the 400-yard IM, 500-yard freestyle, 1,650 freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relay. Vanderkaay also went on the be NCAA Champion in the 400scm free, the 1500scm free and the 800scm free relay, and placed fifth in the 200m free.
Junior year would be no different, Vanderkaay repeats his four Big Ten victories, and is named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. He would go on to continue his 500-yard freestyle dominance at the NCAA meet, and be named All-American in the 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 1,650-yard freestyle, 800-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard medley relay.
In his fourth and final year as a Michigan Wolverine, Vanderkaay did not disappoint. The Senior Co-Captain added four more Big Ten titles, (200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 1650-yard freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relay), as well as one final NCAA title in the 500. Vanderkaay also placed second in both the 200 and 1650 yard freestyles at the NCAA meet. During his senior campaign at Michigan, Vanderkaay was elected to the senior society known as Michigamua for the leadership he demonstrated as a captain of his team and throughout campus.
2007 and 2008 have continued to reward Peter for his hard work. In the summer of 2007 he posted a career performance at U.S. Nationals, besting Michael Phelps for first place in the 400m freestyle and joining forces with Phelps, Davis Tarwater, Scott Spann, and Chris DeJong to claim two more golds -- one in the 4x100m freestyle relay and another in the 4x100m medley relay.
On May 17, 2008, swimming at the 2008 International Invitational Toyota Grand Prix in Santa Clara, California, Peter broke a U.S. record in 400m freestyle with 3:43.82 time.
Vanderkaay will continue to swim until at least 2009. He will remain in Ann Arbor and is currently focused on the United States Olympic trials and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
[edit] External links
- Peter Vanderkaay's unofficial website
- Peter's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Website for Peter's Agents, BBA Sports
[edit] References
- ^ 2004 Olympic Games swimming results. Retrieved on 2007-07-22.
- ^ Montreal 2005 Results. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
- ^ 12th FINA World Championships. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
