Charlie Hickcox

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Charlie Hickcox
Personal information
Full nameCharles Buchanan Hickcox
Nickname"Charlie"
National teamUnited States
Born(1947-02-06)February 6, 1947
Phoenix, Arizona
DiedJune 14, 2010(2010-06-14) (aged 63)
San Diego
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight176 lb (80 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, freestyle, individual medley
ClubBloomington Swim Club
College teamIndiana University
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 200 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 400 m medley
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 4x100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City 100 m backstroke
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg 4x200 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1967 Winnipeg 200 m backstroke]
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 200 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 4x200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 4x100 m medley

Charles Buchanan Hickcox (February 6, 1947 – June 14, 2010) was an American competition swimmer, three-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in six events.

Career[edit]

Hickcox was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Indiana University, and swam for the Indiana Hoosiers swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 1967 to 1969. He won a total of seven individual NCAA national championships while swimming for Hoosiers coach Doc Counsilman.[1]

The peak of Hickcox's swimming career occurred between 1967 and 1968 when he set eight world records in the space of sixteen months. He received four medals (three gold and one silver) at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He won gold medals in both the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley events (setting an Olympic record in the 200-meter), and another gold as a member of the world record-setting U.S. team in the men's 4×100-meter medley relay. He also added a silver medal in the men's 100-meter backstroke.[2]

Hickcox was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1968, and inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1976.[3] He was married to Olympic diver Lesley Bush, but they later divorced.

He died from cancer on June 14, 2010, in San Diego at the age of 63.[4][5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Indiana Hoosiers 2006–07 Men's Swimming & Diving, History & Records Archived November 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Indiana University Athletic Department, Bloomington, Indiana, p. 82 (2006). Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Charlie Hickcox Archived April 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  3. ^ "Charles Hickcox (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  4. ^ Charles Buchanan "Charlie" Hickcox II Obituary Charlie Hickcox. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "Passages: Triple Olympic Gold Medalist Charlie Hickcox, 63[permanent dead link]," Swimming World Magazine (June 15, 2010). Retrieved October 11, 2012.

External links[edit]

Records
Preceded by Men's 100-meter backstroke
world record-holder (long course)

August 28, 1967 – September 21, 1967
Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 400-meter individual medley
world record-holder (long course)

August 30, 1968 – July 11, 1969
Succeeded by
Gary Hall, Sr.
Preceded by Men's 200-meter individual medley
world record-holder (long course)

August 31, 1968 – August 17, 1969
Succeeded by
Gary Hall, Sr.