Description
Richard James DeMont is an American former swimmer who set a record for the 1,500-meter freestyle. A graduate in 1973 of Terra Linda High School, he was a member of the U.S. Olympic team and competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany where he won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle. At 1973 World Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, DeMont became the first man to swim the 400-meter freestyle in under four minutes.
The International Olympic Committee stripped DeMont of his gold medal after he tested positive for a banned substance contained in his asthma medication. The positive test following the 400 also deprived DeMont of a chance at multiple medals, as he was not permitted to swim in any other events at the Games, including the 1500-meter freestyle for which he was the then-current world record holder.
In 2001 the US Olympic Committee admitted that it had mishandled DeMont's medical information at the 1972 Olympics and appealed to the IOC to reinstate the medal. The IOC have not officially changed the results or overturned his ban.
As of 2009, DeMont is an associate head coach at the University of Arizona.
Born
April 21st, 1956 in San Francisco (Age 68) as Richard James DeMont
Teams
Last Changes
2017/08/18
Address Removed: Available to members only
2011/05/21
New Address: Available to members only