Career
He swam at the 1976 Summer Olympics and played on the United States of America"s team at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1974 and 1975 by Swimming World Magazine. In 1974 in space of four days he broke Mark Spitz"s 200-meter freestyle world record, Rick Demont"s 400-meter freestyle world record and Steve Holland"s 1500-meter freestyle world record.
In the 1976 Olympics the following summer, he could manage only a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle.
He was completely shut out of his signature event, the 1500-meter freestyle. He could not compete four years later when the United States led the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott in Moscow, Russia.