Erik Vendt

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Erik Vendt


imagesize =
caption =
fullname = Erik K. Vendt
nicknames =
nationality = USA
strokes =
club = Ocean State Squids
collegeteam = University of Southern California
birthdate =birth date and age|1981|01|09
birthplace =North Easton, Massachusetts, United States
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|m=1.80
weight = 174 lbs (79 kg)
medaltemplates =

Erik Vendt (born January 9, 1981 in North Easton, Massachusetts) is an American swimmer. He won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2001 he won the silver medal in the 400m Medley at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Named 2002 NCAA "Swimmer of the Year" after winning the 1650y free and 400y IM, and placing second in the 500y free. Vendt broke the 16-year-old American record in 1500m free, becoming the first American to break 15 minutes with a time of 14:59.11 at 2000 Olympic Trials.

Erik Vendt attended Boston College High School in Dorchester, MA. While in high school, Vendt swam for the United States Club Swimming Team Ocean State Squids under head coach Joshua Stern. Vendt then attended the University of Southern California and was a five-time NCAA title winner, 13-time All-American and seven-time Pac-10 title winner as a Trojan. He currently trains at the University of Michigan under Bob Bowman.

In 2001 Erik won silver in the 400m Individual Medley at the 2001 World Aquatics Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

Most recently, Erik broke the American Record in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 8:36.49 on January 18, 2008 at the Southern California Grand Prix meet.

On February 18, 2008, Erik Vendt posted a 1500 meter freestyle time of 14:47.59 in the 1500m while at the Missouri Grand Prix. In the process he set a US Open record, set previously by Grant Hackett in 2003.

On May 15th, 2008 in California, Vendt posted a 14:46.78, then 2008's fastest in the 1500m, thereby appearing to set up a likely duel in the Beijing Olympics 1500m Final with Grant Hackett, who posted a 14:48.65 at the Australian Olympic Trials in March and is the two-time defending Olympic champion in the event. But it was not to be, as Vendt finished 4th in the 1500m Final of the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha on July 6th.

Vendt won a gold medal in Beijing by swimming in the heats for the US's 4 x 200 freestyle relay team.

On September 2, 2008 Vendt participated as a special speaker at Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty "Rally for the Republic" event in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

External links

* [http://swimming.teamusa.org/athlete/athlete/917 Erik Vendt's U.S. Olympic Team bio]
*Videos & Results on [http://www.swimpassion.net/Athletes/erikvendt.html SwimPassion.net]