- David Larson
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David Larson Personal information Full name David Erwin Larson Nationality 
United StatesBorn June 25, 1959
Jesup, GeorgiaHeight 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight 174 lb (79 kg) Sport Sport Swimming Stroke(s) Freestyle College team University of Florida Medal recordMen's swimming Competitor for the United StatesOlympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4x200 m freestyle Pan American Games Gold 1979 San Juan 4x200 m freestyle Gold 1983 Caracas 4x200 m freestyle Silver 1979 San Juan 200 m freestyle David Erwin Larson (born June 25, 1959) is a former American college and international swimmer who was an Olympic gold medalist.
Contents
Early years
Larson was born in Jesup, Georgia in 1959.[1] In 1977, he graduated from the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida.
College career
Larson received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida,[2] where he swam for the Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition under coach Randy Reese from 1978 to 1981. Larson won several NCAA championships at Florida in the 800-yard freestyle relay, setting American and NCAA records. He finished second in the 200-yard freestyle to Rowdy Gaines of Auburn in 1981, but then out-swam Gaines on the final leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay to claim the NCAA championship in the relay. Larson earned All-American honors in several events and was national record holder in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Larson graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1987, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
International career
Larson was selected for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, but was unable to compete because U.S. President Jimmy Carter organized the boycott of the Moscow Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Larson was a favorite to win several medals in 1980. Larson was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Los Angeles, California and won a gold medal in the men's 800-meter freestyle relay team, beating the favored West German team, anchored by Michael Gross. Larson was also named to several other U.S. National Swim Teams, representing the United States in international competition.
See also
- Florida Gators
- List of United States records in swimming
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Olympians
References
- ^ databaseOlympics.com, David Larson. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, David Larson. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
Bibliography
- Caraccioli, Jerry, & Tom Caraccioli, Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, New Chapter Press, Washington, D.C. (2009). ISBN 9780942257540.
1980 USA Olympic Swimming Team Men's Team Steve Barnicoat • Bill Barrett • Craig Beardsley • Mike Bottom • Mike Bruner • Rick Carey • Chris Cavanaugh • Jeff Float • Billy Forrester • Rowdy Gaines • Brian Goodell • Matt Gribble • John Hencken • Bob Jackson • Kris Kirchner • David Larson • Steve Lundquist • Glenn Mills • John Moffet • Ron Neugent • William Paulus • Peter Rocca • Brian Roney • John Simons • Dave Sims • Dave Thornton • Jesse Vassallo
Women's Team Terri Baxter • Lisa Buese • Linda Burton • Kim Carlisle • Tracy Caulkins • Stephanie Elkins • Nancy Hogshead • Linda Jezek • Libby Kinkead • Karin LaBerge • Kim Linehan • Marybeth Linzmeier • Mary T. Meagher • Joan Pennington • Susan Rapp • Jill Sterkel • Susie Thayer • Sue Walsh • Sippy Woodhead
Coaches Paul Bergen • Don Gambril • George Haines • Denny Pursley • Randy Reese • Mark Schubert
1984 USA Olympic Swimming Team Men's Team Matt Biondi • Rick Carey • Chris Cavanaugh • George DiCarlo • Jeff Float • Geoffrey Gaberino • Rowdy Gaines • Matt Gribble • Bruce Hayes • Mike Heath • Tom Jager • Patrick Kennedy • Jeff Kostoff • David Larson • Robin Leamy • Steve Lundquist • John Moffet • Pablo Morales • John Mykkanen • Mike O'Brien • Rich Saeger • Rich Schroeder • Jesse Vassallo • Dave Wilson
Women's Team Theresa Andrews • Tracy Caulkins • Tiffany Cohen • Sue Heon • Nancy Hogshead • Jenna Johnson • Kim Linehan • Mary T. Meagher • Betsy Mitchell • Susan Rapp • Kim Rhodenbaugh • Michele Richardson • Carrie Steinseifer • Jill Sterkel • Dara Torres • Tori Trees • Mary Wayte • Amy White • Sippy Woodhead
Coaches Ron Ballatore • Ray Bussard • Don Gambril • George Haines • Charlie Hodgson • Doug Ingram • Frank Keefe • Skip Kenney • Richard Quick • Randy Reese • Mark Schubert
Pan American Champions in Men's 4×200 m Freestyle Relay 1951: United States (Gora, Jones, Cleveland, Heusner) • 1955: United States (Smith, Yorzyk, Moore, McLane) • 1959: United States (Blick, Sintz, Rounsavelle, Winters) • 1963: United States (Ilman, McDonough, Lyons, Townsend) • 1967: United States (Schollander, Hickcox, Charlton, Spitz) • 1971: United States (Heidenreich, McConica, Genter, Heckl) • 1975: United States (DeMont, Favero, Horner, Curington) • 1979: United States (Goodell, Larson, Kirshner, Gaines) • 1983: United States (Larson, Saeger, Hayes, Gaines) • 1987: United States (Robinson, Jones, O'Brien, Witchell) • 1991: United States (Keppeler, Wells, Tippins, Diehl) • 1995: United States (Olsen, Davis, Berube, Burgess) • 1999: United States (Messner, Phillips, Howard, Tucker) • 2003: United States (Lochte, Goldberg, Lee, Ketchum) • 2007: Brazil (Pereira, Castro, Salatta, Oliveira) • 2011: United States (Dwyer, Robison, Houchin, Patton)
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University of Florida · Gainesville, Florida Categories:- 1959 births
- Living people
- Florida Gators men's swimmers
- Former world record holders in swimming
- Male freestyle swimmers
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States
- Olympic swimmers of the United States
- People from Wayne County, Georgia
- Swimmers at the 1984 Summer Olympics
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