Charlie Hickcox

Charlie Hickcox
Personal information
Full name Charles Buchanan Hickcox
Nickname(s) "Charlie"
National team  United States
Born February 6, 1947
Phoenix, Arizona
Died June 14, 2010 (aged 63)
San Diego, California
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Backstroke, freestyle, individual medley
Club Bloomington Swim Club
College team Indiana University

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

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 4x100-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, California; he was 63 years old.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. Indiana Hoosiers 2000607 Men's Swimming & Diving, History & Records, Indiana University Athletic Department, Bloomington, Indiana, p. 82 (2006). Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  2. Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Charlie Hickcox. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  3. International Swimming Hall of Fame, Honorees, Charles Hickcox (USA). 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," Swimming World Magazine (June 15, 2010). Retrieved October 11, 2012.

External links

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

August 28, 1967 September 21, 1967
Succeeded by
Roland Matthes
Preceded by
Gary Hall, Sr.
Men's 400-meter individual medley
world record-holder (long course)

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

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