Michael Wenden
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| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Competitor for  Australia |
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| Men’s Swimming | |||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Gold | 1968 Mexico City | 100 m freestyle | |
| Gold | 1968 Mexico City | 200 m freestyle | |
| Silver | 1968 Mexico City | 4x200 m freestyle relay | |
| Bronze | 1968 Mexico City | 4x100 m freestyle relay | |
| World Championsips (LC) | |||
| Silver | 1973 Belgrad | 4x200m Freestyle | |
| Bronze | 1973 Belgrad | 100m Freestyle | |
| Commonwealth Games | |||
| Gold | 1966 Kingston | 110 yds freestyle | |
| Gold | 1966 Kingston | 4x110 yds freestyle relay | |
| Gold | 1966 Kingston | 4x220 yds freestyle relay | |
| Gold | 1970 Edinburgh | 100 m freestyle | |
| Gold | 1970 Edinburgh | 200 m freestyle | |
| Gold | 1970 Edinburgh | 4x100 m freestyle relay | |
| Gold | 1970 Edinburgh | 4x200 m freestyle relay | |
| Silver | 1970 Edinburgh | 4x100 m medley relay | |
| Gold | 1974 Christchurch | 100 m freestyle | |
| Gold | 1974 Christchurch | 4x200 m freestyle relay | |
| Silver | 1974 Christchurch | 4x100 m freestyle relay | |
| Silver | 1974 Christchurch | 4x100 m medley relay | |
| Bronze | 1974 Christchurch | 200 m freestyle | |
Michael ("Mike") Vincent Wenden MBE (born 17 November 1949 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a former swimming champion from Australia, who competed in two Olympic Games — 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics. He holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of New South Wales.
Wenden did not have a stylish stroke at the time of his golden streak in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He was known as a "drop-dead sprinter", flailing away with nearly sixty strokes to the lap to his opponents’ forty. It didn't matter: Wenden won the 100 m and 200 m freestyle, setting a world record in the shorter distance and an Olympic record in the longer. In doing so he beat the American superstars Mark Spitz and Don Schollander. He also won silver and bronze in relays.
Wenden came under the influence of an unconventional coach, former army commando Vic Arneil, when he was thirteen years old. The 200 m Olympic record Wenden broke was the sport’s oldest; the event had not been on the program since 1904, and Australia’s Freddie Lane set the record in 1900. Wenden had trouble adjusting to Mexico City’s high altitude; for two weeks his heart pumped so fast he could not swim and hardly sleep. After his 200 m final he lost consciousness and sank; his team-mate Bob Windle came to his aid, pulling him to the surface.
In 2000 Wenden was one of the eight flag-bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
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| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ken Walsh |
Men's 100 metre freestyle world record holder (long course) 19 October 1968–23 August 1970 |
Succeeded by Mark Spitz |
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Wenden, Michael Vincent |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Wenden, Mike |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian swimmer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17 November 1949 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
