| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Gordon |
| Nationality | United States |
| Born | September 12, 1989 Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Stroke(s) | Freestyle, Butterfly, Medley |
| Club | Sioux Falls Snow Fox |
| College team | University of Iowa |
Paul Gordon born September 12, 1989 in Sioux Falls McKennan Hospital to Richard and Paula Gordon, Paul is a South Dakota native.
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As an age group swimmer, Paul competed for Sioux Falls Snow Fox swim team, a member of USA Swimming. Paul set a plethora of records at Snow Fox,[1] many of those records being South Dakota records as well. Paul first achieved his Olympic Trials cut in the 200 IM, which is also one of his more notable South Dakota records.[2]
Following a grueling recruiting process, Paul joined the University of Iowa Men's Swimming and Diving team in the fall of 2008.
As a freshman Paul set personal bests at the Missouri Invite in the 200 IM with a 1:50.39 and 200 Freestyle with a 1:38.92.[3] At Big Tens Paul swam the 100 Freestyle setting a personal best of 45.46. He also helped the 400 Freestyle Relay of Conor Dwyer, Ryan Phelan, and Duncan Partridge place fifth with a 2:55.19.[4]
As a sophomore Paul helped the Hawkeyes finish sixth at the Big Ten championship meet.[5] He swam the 500 Freestyle in 4:22.55, the 200 Freestyle in 1:36.01, and the 100 Freestyle in 43.88 and finished 12th, 5th and 6th respectively. Paul had a strong duel meet season as a sophomore winning the 100 Butterfly and 400 Freestyle Relay against Minnesota in 48.96 and 2:59.59.[6] Although he chopped off 2.91 seconds from his best 200 Free, Paul failed to qualify for the NCAA championship meet either individually or on a relay.
Paul changed the Hawkeye record books as a Junior by topping all five relays and the 100 Freestyle at the Big Ten championship meet.. He led off the 800 Free Relay in a 1:34.85 to become the second fastest performer in school history. That time also qualified him 13th for the 2011 Men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship Meet.[7]
Paul is an engineering major at the University of Iowa.