David Walters (swimmer)

David Walters (born September 27, 1987), also known as Dave Walters, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and world record-holder in the 4x200 meter freestyler relay. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Walters earned a gold medal by swimming in the heats of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. As part of the American team, he also formerly held the world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay (long course). Walters is also a seven-time medalist (five gold, one silver, one bronze) at the World Aquatics Championships.

David Walters

Personal information
Nickname	Dave
National team	United States
Born	(1987-09-27) September 27, 1987 (age 37) Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	Trojan Aquatics
College team	University of Texas
Coach	Eddie Reese, Kris Kubik (U. Texas)
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing 4×200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) 2007 Melbourne 4×200 m freestyle 2009 Rome 4×200 m freestyle 2009 Rome 4×100 m medley 2011 Shanghai 4×200 m freestyle 2011 Shanghai 4×100 m freestyle World Championships (SC) 2010 Dubai 4×200 m freestyle

Early years and education

Walters was born in Newport News, Virginia. He graduated from Tabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia, where he competed for the Tabb Tigers high school swim team. He received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he swam for Hall of Fame coach Eddie Reese and Kris Kubik's Texas Longhorns swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Big 12 Conference competition from 2007 to 2010. He was a four-time Big 12 champion, a six-time All-American, and won the individual NCAA national championship in the 200-yard freestyle in 2008. At the conclusion of his 2009–10 senior year, the Longhorns won the NCAA national team championship.^[1]

International competition

2008 Summer Olympics

See also: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Walters swam the first leg of the 4×200meter freestyle relay preliminaries (in 1:46.57) with Ricky Berens, Erik Vendt, and Klete Keller. Their time of 7:04.66 broke the previous Olympic record of 7:07.05 set by Australia in 2000.^[2] In the final of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Berens and Peter Vanderkaay swam a combined time of 6:58.56, a new world record.^[3]

2009 World Championships

See also: Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships

At the 2009 National Championships, Walters competed in three events. In his first event, the 200-meter freestyle, Walters placed second to Michael Phelps with a time of 1:44.95.^[4] In the 100-meter freestyle, Walters placed second to Nathan Adrian in a time of 48.17.^[5] In the 50-meter freestyle, Walters placed 15th in the heats with a time of 22.60.^[6]

At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Walters earned a gold medal as a member of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. Walters, with Michael Phelps, Ricky Berens and Ryan Lochte, swam a combined time of 6:58.55 to break the world record set last year in Beijing.^[7] In the 100-meter freestyle final, Walters placed 5th with a time of 47.33 to break Michael Phelps' American record of 47.51.^[8] Walters placed 12th overall in the 200-meter freestyle and did not advance to the final.^[9] In the 4×100-meter medley relay final, Walters, with Aaron Peirsol, Michael Phelps, and Eric Shanteau, swam a combined time of 3:27.28 to break the world record set last year in Beijing.^[10]

Personal bests

As of August 6, 2010.

Event	Time	Venue	Date	Note(s)
50 m freestyle (long course)	22.60	Indianapolis	July 9, 2009
100 m freestyle (long course)	47.33	Rome	July 30, 2009	Former NR
200 m freestyle (long course)	1:44.95	Indianapolis	July 8, 2009

Key: NR = National record

See also

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of University of Texas at Austin alumni
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
• World record progression 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay

References

1. "Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Kris Kubik". Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
2. "Swimming at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games: Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay Round One". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
3. "Swimming at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games: Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay Final". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
4. "2009 Conoco Phillips National Championships – Men's 200 m freestyle results (final)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
5. "2009 Conoco Phillips National Championships – Men's 100 m freestyle results (final)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
6. "2009 Conoco Phillips National Championships – Men's 50 m freestyle results (heats)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
7. "US relay triumph sees Phelps collect third gold". American Free Press. July 31, 2009. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
8. Lisa Dillman (July 31, 2009). "Ryan Lochte's world record is one of seven for the day". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
9. "13th FINA World Championships – Men's 200 m freestyle results (semifinals)" (PDF). Omega Timing. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
10. "United States Men Sweep Relays, Sets World Record in 400 Medley Relay". Swimming World Magazine. August 2, 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013.

External links

• David Walters at World Aquatics
• David Walters at Olympics.com
• Dave Walters at Olympedia (archive)
• Dave Walters at USA Swimming (archived June 2, 2021)
• David Walters at Team USA (archive June 26, 2023)
• David Walters at the University of Texas at the Wayback Machine (archived October 10, 2008)

Records
Preceded by Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak	Men's 4×100-meter medley relay world record-holder (long course) August 2, 2009 – August 1, 2021 With: Aaron Peirsol, Eric Shanteau, Michael Phelps	Succeeded by Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew, Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple